House Budget Resolution Cuts Programs for Poor and Hungry People
Washington, D.C. – Bread for the World today expressed concern that the House Budget Committee’s fiscal year 2018 budget resolution makes deep cuts to programs that help people living in hunger and poverty.
“These proposed cuts would be devastating to families who are already struggling to get by,” said Rev. David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World. “The programs the House proposes to cut have moved tens of millions of people out of hunger and poverty. Clearly, this is not a ‘balanced’ approach to developing a budget.”
The House budget resolution drastically cuts safety-net programs while cutting taxes and increasing defense spending. It calls for at least $203 billion in fast-tracked mandatory spending cuts over the next decade. The proposal assumes these cuts would be enacted this year and would impact programs like SNAP (formerly known as food stamps), Medicaid, and refundable tax credits.
On top of the fast-tracked spending cuts, the budget assumes $114 billion in cuts to Medicaid above those already proposed in the American Health Care Act (AHCA), and $150 billion in cuts to SNAP and $20 billion in cuts to the earned income tax credit and child tax credit.
The House budget also cuts the school meals program by $1.6 billion by making changes to the community eligibility requirements. This program provides breakfast and lunch to millions of children from low-income families.
In addition, the budget makes $1.3 trillion in non-defense discretionary spending cuts over 10 years. This will put pressure on appropriators to cut programs like Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and international development programs.
“This budget unfairly targets programs that help the most vulnerable people,” Beckmann said. “Congress must consider the entire budget when it is looking for places to make cuts or generate revenue. I urge all House members to reject the resolution and pass a fair budget that lives up to the values of their faith.”
Tools
from our Resource Library
For Education
U.S. Hunger and Poverty State Fact Sheets
These fact sheets provide a snapshot of hunger and poverty in the United States and in each state plus Washington, D.C.
Bill Analysis: Raise the Wage Act (H.R.582 & S.150)
We cannot end hunger in the U.S. without raising the minimum wage.
Briefing Paper: A Multi-Sectoral Approach to Nutrition. Assessing USAID's Progress.
Better nutrition is a necessary component of a country’s capacity to achieve development goals such as economic growth and improved public health.
For Faith
Unity Declaration on Racism and Poverty
A diverse body of Christian leaders calls on the churches and Congress to focus on the integral connection.
Dear Members of Congress,
As the president and Congress are preparing their plans for this year, almost 100 church leaders—from all the families of U.S. Christianity—are...
In Times Like These … A Pan-African Christian Devotional for Public Policy Engagement
This devotional guide invites deepened relationship with and among Pan-African people and elected leaders in the mission to end hunger and poverty.
Sermon by David Beckmann at Duke University Chapel
Remarks delivered October 1, 2017 at Duke University Chapel in Chapel Hill in North Carolina.
Thank you for inviting me to preach here at Duke University Chapel. And I especially want to thank the Bread for the World members who have come this morning.
Bruce Puckett urged...
For Advocacy
Fact Sheet: Why We Need $150 Million for Global Nutrition Programs
Bread for the World and its partners are asking Congress to provide $150 million for global nutrition in the fiscal year 2020 budget.
U.S. Hunger and Poverty State Fact Sheets
These fact sheets provide a snapshot of hunger and poverty in the United States and in each state plus Washington, D.C.
Fact Sheet: Hunger by the Numbers
In 2017, 11.8 percent of households in the U.S.—40 million people—were food-insecure, meaning that they were unsure at some point during the year about how they would provide for their next meal.