November 04, 1999
We are very excited to inform you that Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Senator Jim Jeffords (R-VT) have agreed to be original cosponsors with Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) of the "Hunger Relief Act of 1999" (S. 1805 and H.R. 3192). This legislation is expected to be introduced in the Senate sometime next week.
Background
Hunger persists in America despite a strong economy. While participation in the Food Stamp program declined 27% over the past three years, many working parents still struggle to feed their families. A July 1999 GAO study concludes, "children's participation in the Food Stamp Program has dropped more sharply than the number of children living in poverty, indicating a growing gap between need and assistance." USDA determined that 6.1 million adults and 3.3 million children experienced hunger during 1998, and hunger rates are highest in households with children led by single women and minorities. An Urban Institute study of former welfare recipients finds that 33% have to skip or cut meals due to lack of food.
Secure access to nutrition improves health, education, and labor outcomes. Children who lack adequate, daily nutrition score lower on tests, have more disciplinary difficulties, and face increased health risks. Hunger diminishes adults' health and ability to concentrate as well. Decades ago Food Stamps were created as the nation's primary defense against hunger, and today they provide an average benefit of $2.29 per person per day. The Hunger Relief Act invests $2.3 billion over five years to repair specific cracks that time has wrought in the Food Stamp program, a 2% increase to cure hunger among working families.
United Methodist Position
Our Church believes that it is our responsibility to make sure that people do not go hungry (Matthew 25:34-40). We must support legislative avenues, and other ways, to support people who are in need in our communities. "In order to provide basic needs such as food, clothing, shelter, education, health care, and other necessities, ways must be found to share more equitably the resources of the world. To begin to alleviate poverty, we support such policies as: adequate income maintenance, quality education, decent housing, job training, meaningful employment opportunities, adequate medical and hospital care, and humanization and radical revisions of welfare programs" (Social Principles, ?67.E). Supporting "The Hunger Relief Act of 1999" is one of the ways that we, as United Methodists, can make a achieve our goal to help the poor in our midst.
Action
Need to immediately contact potential Republican Senate cosponsors for the Kennedy/Specter Hunger Relief Act
We are now focusing our efforts on Republicans in the Senate that have expressed interest in the legislation in prior meetings. The list of target Republicans is attached, along with staff contacts, phone and fax numbers.
We urge you to please contact your Senate Republican(s) on this list immediately to urge them to join Senators Specter and Jeffords on this important piece of legislation to combat hunger among working poor families in this country. We have also attached a summary of the bill to share with congressional staff.
Please distribute this statement to your grassroots network in all states to get them to sign-on as well to demonstrate widespread support for this legislation.
No, it is not too late for this legislation to impact on public policy. Negotiations are currently underway in Congress on the FY2000 spending bills, and the Administration is beginning to put together their spending priorities for next year (not to mention the public debate and media
attention that the food stamp and anti-hunger programs are getting generally).
http://www.umc-gbcs.org/advact46b.htm
KENNEDY-SPECTER HUNGER RELIEF ACT
OF 1999 SUMMARY |
