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Bread for the World Calls for Protection of Anti-Poverty Programs as Super Committee Talks End

"We regret that the bipartisan Super Committee ended its negotiations today without agreeing to a set of recommendations to reduce our country's deficit by $1.2 trillion over the next 10 years. As provided by law, automatic budget cuts to selected programs will start on January 1, 2013.

"Bread for the World's work to protect programs vital to hungry and poor people now enters a new stage as many of these programs could face further cuts. We appreciate those in Congress and around the country who continue to stress the importance of protecting programs for hungry and poor people, especially during this recession.

"It is worth noting that the Super Committee negotiations have accelerated discussions about reforming the farm bill. The farm bill, which funds the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamps), is set to expire in 2012 unless it is reauthorized by Congress. Nearly 46 million Americans now depend on SNAP to put food on their tables.

"Our current food and farm system is broken. The 2012 Hunger Report, Rebalancing Act: Updating U.S. Food and Farm Policies, released today, recommends steps to reform the farm bill that will actually save us money while supplying national nutrition programs with healthy foods.

"As members of Congress continue to negotiate other deficit-reduction proposals in the coming months, we urge them to take a balanced approach and create a circle of protection around anti-poverty and anti-hunger programs. Our federal deficit must be greatly reduced, but not by sacrificing programs vital to hungry and poor people.

"Combating poverty and hunger is both a Christian and an American value. Congress should hold firm to this principle as it seeks ways to balance our budget and reduce our national deficit. "

Bread for the World (www.bread.org) is a collective Christian voice urging our nation's decision makers to end hunger at home and abroad.

Bread for the World
Racine Tucker-Hamilton
office: 202-688-1138
cell: 301-922-8417
rhamilton@bread.org
or
Kristen Youngblood
office: 202-688-1118
cell: 202-423-7379
kyoungblood@bread.org