wfn.org | ABCUSA: Medley Urges Food Stamp Program Funding Protection

["SCHRAMM, Richard" <Rich.Schramm@abc-usa.org>]

American Baptist News Service (Valley Forge, Pa. 10/5/05)--American
Baptist Churches USA General Secretary the Rev. Dr. A. Roy Medley was
among 40 interfaith leaders who recently urged Congress to protect the
Food Stamp Program from funding cuts during the federal budget
reconciliation process.

A letter sent by the leaders in late September to all members of
Congress emphasized that "the budget must reflect the best of our
nation's moral values: our resolve that poor and vulnerable people not
go hungry."

Excerpts from the letter follow:

"Care for hungry people is a mandate for every major religious
tradition. As leaders from many of these traditions, we appeal to you to
protect the Food Stamp Program from cuts in the current budget process.
Food stamps are the frontline defense against hunger for many of the
most vulnerable members of our society. More than 50 percent of food
stamp beneficiaries are children. Virtually all of the rest are seniors,
people with disabilities, or those making the transition from welfare to
work. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, one of the first actions
authorities undertook was distribution of food stamps, tapping a program
that has helped curb hunger for 40 years.

"Although we understand the challenge you face in finding $3 billion in
savings from the Agriculture Committee, budget constraints do not
release us from our obligation to care for poor and vulnerable people.
It would be a moral failure to take those cuts from the Food Stamp
Program. The number of people experiencing hunger in the United States
has been on the rise and our national nutrition programs are as
important as they've ever been.  The unprecedented destruction caused by
Hurricane Katrina will force many more people to depend on the federal
nutrition programs....

"In a deeply religious country like the United States, it is no surprise
that the majority of Americans also believe that fighting hunger is an
issue of utmost importance....

"More than one in six children (13 million) in the United States live in
households that struggle to put food on the table, giving us the highest
rate of childhood hunger in the industrialized world. We implore you to
reject a budget that would deprive more working families of food for
their children. Any such reductions would break our national commitment
to help hard-working people who struggle daily to feed their families
and build better lives. The budget must reflect the best of our nation's
moral values: our resolve that poor and vulnerable people not go
hungry."

Among other signers of the statement were: the Rev. David Beckmann,
president, Bread for the World; Dr. Bob Edgar, general secretary,
National Council of Churches USA; Paul Montacute, director, Baptist
World Aid; Dr. Daniel Vestal, coordinator, Cooperative Baptist
Fellowship; and Dr. Ronald J. Sider, president, Evangelicals for Social
Action.

05ABN112