Apparently, that's what the House of Representatives thinks should happen.
The House passed a budget reconciliation bill that would push more than 220,000 low-income, working families with children off of food stamps. The Senate, however, passed its version of the budget reconciliation bill with no cuts to food stamps. Now the bill goes to a conference committee, and it becomes important that members of Congress hear from us that the final reconciliation bill should include no cuts to food stamps.
Hunger and food insecurity are increasing, to our public shame. USDA recently released information that the number of people in the United States living in households struggling to put food on the table increased by nearly 2 million people (from 36.3 million individuals in 2003 to 38.2 million in 2004) last year. This is the fifth straight year showing an increase in food insecurity, and this year's increase is sharper than in previous years.
Moreover, since the most recent data is from 2004, these numbers do not reflect the increases we expect to see as a result of this year's hurricanes. Congress must address the hunger problem in our country - not take food away from hundreds of thousands of hard-working people who struggle daily to feed their families.
While the House leadership continues to urge Members of Congress to accept the deep cuts to food stamps and other safety net programs, they are simultaneously pushing for $70 billion in tax cuts which primarily benefit the wealthy and further add to the deficit.
Yet, the Senate has demonstrated that it is possible to make budget cuts without pushing people off of food stamps. Therefore, your timely call in the next few days is urgently needed and can make a real difference for hungry and poor people in the United States.
Please call Representative Dennis Hastert by 5pm Thursday, December 8. The capitol switchboard can be reached at 1-800-826-3688; just ask to leave a message for Rep. Hastert. Urge him to oppose any budget that cuts food stamps. Our nation's budget should help, not harm, hardworking people struggling to feed their families.
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