Write to Congress
Bread for the World urges elected leaders in Washington, D.C., to enable people in our nation and our world to feed their families and move out of poverty.
Personalized emails stand out. They tell senators and representative that you, as a constituent, really care about an issue. Members of Congress want to hear from their constituents about the issues on which they will vote in the Senate and House of Representatives.
The following are issues moving in Congress and/or in the administration. This is your opportunity to change policies, programs, and conditions that allow hunger and poverty to persist here and abroad.
Hunger and the Coronavirus
The COVID-19 pandemic presents an era-defining challenge to our nation and our communities.
As the outbreak spread, Congress responded with good initial steps, passing legislation that provides immediate cash assistance to low- and middle-income households, including Pandemic Unemployment Insurance Assistance (PUA) through December 2020 to workers.
The recent bill also provides global response funds to meet increasing international humanitarian needs. That said, more must be done to ensure the most vulnerable among us, who are hit the hardest by the pandemic, do not fall between the cracks of society.
Tell Congress immediately to boost Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamps) maximum benefits by 15 percent to ensure the vulnerable populations in the United States have access to the resources they need.
SNAP benefits help people buy enough food and the purchases stimulate the economy. Every $1 increase in SNAP benefits generates more than $1.50 in economic activity. It’s estimated that $1 billion in new SNAP benefits issued during a recession raises GDP by $1.54 billion and supports 13,560 jobs.
Urge your senators and representatives to increase SNAP benefits to help families cope with the economic downturn that is accompanying efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
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Nutrition
Millions of children around the world struggle to get proper nutrition. In the U.S., the hungriest time of the year for children is summertime when they no longer have access to school meals.
Today, 22 percent, or 149 million, of the world’s children are not growing as they should. And being dangerously thin continues to threaten the lives of 7 percent—or 49 million children under the age of 5.
Congress has the opportunity through legislation to change the course of the lives of millions of children in the U.S. and abroad. They just need the political will to make it happen.
All children deserve the opportunity to live a healthy life and reach their full potential. Join us in making this opportunity a reality!
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Migration and Immigration
Immigration is a hunger issue. People who make the decision to leave their home and come to the United States generally have few other options. Central America’s Northern Triangle countries—Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras—are among the poorest in the world, with very high levels of hunger and malnutrition.
Any truly effective immigration policy must include long-lasting solutions to the factors that force people to migrate: hunger, malnutrition, extreme poverty, and violence.
As our country continues to debate immigration reform, we must acknowledge that the United States cannot have a comprehensive immigration strategy without supporting the efforts that countries make to help their own people survive and thrive.
This year, Congress has the opportunity to strengthen U.S. development and humanitarian assistance by investing in foreign assistance funds to Central America and to work to ensure poverty-reducing programs continue in the region.
Take action Learn more"Jesus said ...
'You give them something to eat.'"
Matthew 14:16
Tools
from our Resource Library
For Education
Election Resources
One of the best times to raise the issues of hunger and poverty is during election campaigns. Engage candidates in your state/district on hunger and poverty using our elections resources.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.
Conflict and Fragility Are Hunger Issues
Conflict is a main driver of the recent increase in hunger around the world and of forced migration. Hunger also contributes to conflict.
For Faith
The Bible on Health as a Hunger Issue
“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him and established in faith.” These words from Colossians 2:6 remind us of the faith that is active in love for our neighbors.
The Bible on...
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.
For Advocacy
Fact Sheet: Coronavirus (COVID-19) and SNAP
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is designed to respond to changes in need, making it well suited to respond to crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fact Sheet: Why We Need $200 Million for Global Nutrition Programs
Bread for the World and its partners are asking Congress to provide $200 million for global nutrition in the fiscal year 2020 budget.
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.