An action about Child Hunger from Bread for the World
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URGENT: Call 1-800-826-368 Today to tell your U.S. representative to support an additional $1 billion per year for child nutrition reauthorization.
Dear Friend,
We urgently need your help this week to convince your U.S. representative to allocate $1 billion a year in new investments for nutrition programs for our children.
So far, the Senate Agriculture Committee passed their version of the Child Nutrition Bill at $450 million annually. We now have to convince the House Education and Labor Committee, which is drafting its version of the Child Nutrition Bill, to find the full $1 billion requested by President Obama.
Today, nearly one in four children in the United States is at risk of hunger, while one in three is obese and overweight. We need adequate funding from Congress—at least $1 billion annually in the next five years—to reverse these trends.
The Child Nutrition Bill will strengthen programs such as school lunches, school breakfasts, summer feeding programs, and the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program. These are critical in protecting children from hunger and in improving their nutrition. Under current funding, far too many eligible children are not being served. Of the 19.4 million low-income children receiving lunch assistance each school day, only 46 percent receive breakfast assistance and just 11 percent have access to summer food programs.
Representatives James P. McGovern (D-3/MA) and Jo Ann Emerson (R-8/MO) are circulating a letter to their colleagues to show Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller (D-7/CA) that a majority of the House supports a strong child nutrition reauthorization. As of last week, we have 116 signatures but we need at least 218. We only have until noon on Friday, April 30, to get 100 more signatures. Can you make a quick call to help us reach our goal?
Message and Key Points:
Please call your U.S. representative at 1-800-826-3688 by noon, Friday, April 30.
Tell your representative: Please sign onto the Dear Colleague letter being circulated by Reps. McGovern and Emerson in support of an additional $1 billion per year for child nutrition reauthorization.
You can explain your message by adding any or all of these points:
The House Education and Labor Committee will write a child nutrition bill soon. I want you to make sure that at least $1 billion in new funding is provided to strengthen child nutrition programs.
With nearly a quarter of America’s children struggling against hunger and one-third obese or overweight, the time for strong action is now. At least $1 billion per year in new investments in child nutrition programs is needed to reverse these staggering rates.
Child nutrition programs could do far more to reduce hunger and improve nutrition simply by reaching more eligible children. For every 100 children receiving lunch assistance each school day, less than half receive breakfast assistance and only 11 percent access summer food programs.
Thank you for your voice and your support.
Grace and peace.
Showing posts with label call-in. Show all posts
Showing posts with label call-in. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Advocacy Actions for Haiti
Many people are wondering..now that we have donated money for Haiti, what more can we do? My answer...advocate for Haiti.
The most direct advocacy help at this time is to focus on debt relief for Haiti. I'm not an expert in debt relief, but I'll take a crack at it and if you see something I say isn't right, please correct me in the comment section. The basic concept of debt relief is this: When a country is so impoverished that it can’t help its people get the basic human needs, if it carries debt on the order of $100M or more, there’s very little hope of recovering that debt. If it is pressured to pay it back, there is very little hope of the people or the country being able to work themselves out of poverty if they have no food, water, health care, education, etc. Haiti is exactly in this situation with $165M debt.
An aspect of this specific to Haiti is the form of emergency aid that Haiti is getting. The IMF (International Monetary Fund) approved a $102M loan for Haiti…not a grant as advocates pushed for. The IMF argues that the loans are much faster to approve than grants and notes that the loans are interest-free.
Many advocacy groups are working to get this debt cancelled especially in light of the earthquake damage. Some good news is that the US (as I understand it) already forgave Haiti it's debt before the earthquake. I think I heard Venezuela is doing the same now.
Here's a summary what has been done by advocacy groups in the US recently:
The ONE campaign sent out an emergency petition via email and delivered more than 150,000 signatures to the IMF to drop Haiti's debt. Several orgs are urging Tim Geithner, Sec of Treasury, to use his influence on the IMF. The orgs were successful in convincing a Rep Maxine Waters (D-CA) and Rep Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) to circulate a letter around the House of Representatives to go to Geithner saying the same thing.
Here's what you can do. Follow this link and call your Representative and urge them to sign onto the letter to Geithner. The deadline is THE END OF THE BUSINESS DAY IN DC ON MONDAY.
If you're still asking "What else?" I encourage you to take action to support a Global Fund for Education here . You can write to your reps and senators about this, too, using the language from the link. You can also tell your reps and senators to help any efforts to provide our fair share of funding to the Global Fund for Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria. It is precisely because Haiti was so impoverished before the quake that it's situation is so dire now. By supporting the creation of an education fund and supporting the health fund in place, other places like Haiti can stand a chance of lifting themselves out of extreme poverty before a tsunami, war, earthquake or other disaster strikes.
The most direct advocacy help at this time is to focus on debt relief for Haiti. I'm not an expert in debt relief, but I'll take a crack at it and if you see something I say isn't right, please correct me in the comment section. The basic concept of debt relief is this: When a country is so impoverished that it can’t help its people get the basic human needs, if it carries debt on the order of $100M or more, there’s very little hope of recovering that debt. If it is pressured to pay it back, there is very little hope of the people or the country being able to work themselves out of poverty if they have no food, water, health care, education, etc. Haiti is exactly in this situation with $165M debt.
An aspect of this specific to Haiti is the form of emergency aid that Haiti is getting. The IMF (International Monetary Fund) approved a $102M loan for Haiti…not a grant as advocates pushed for. The IMF argues that the loans are much faster to approve than grants and notes that the loans are interest-free.
Many advocacy groups are working to get this debt cancelled especially in light of the earthquake damage. Some good news is that the US (as I understand it) already forgave Haiti it's debt before the earthquake. I think I heard Venezuela is doing the same now.
Here's a summary what has been done by advocacy groups in the US recently:
The ONE campaign sent out an emergency petition via email and delivered more than 150,000 signatures to the IMF to drop Haiti's debt. Several orgs are urging Tim Geithner, Sec of Treasury, to use his influence on the IMF. The orgs were successful in convincing a Rep Maxine Waters (D-CA) and Rep Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) to circulate a letter around the House of Representatives to go to Geithner saying the same thing.
Here's what you can do. Follow this link and call your Representative and urge them to sign onto the letter to Geithner. The deadline is THE END OF THE BUSINESS DAY IN DC ON MONDAY.
If you're still asking "What else?" I encourage you to take action to support a Global Fund for Education here . You can write to your reps and senators about this, too, using the language from the link. You can also tell your reps and senators to help any efforts to provide our fair share of funding to the Global Fund for Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria. It is precisely because Haiti was so impoverished before the quake that it's situation is so dire now. By supporting the creation of an education fund and supporting the health fund in place, other places like Haiti can stand a chance of lifting themselves out of extreme poverty before a tsunami, war, earthquake or other disaster strikes.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
TODAY is Day of Action for Global Education
TODAY is the day to call the White House for Global Education support. This capwiz link should make it very easy and you can let RESULTS know you took the action.
If the link doesn't work, just call 202 456 1414 and ask President Obama to provide $2B for the creation of a Global Fund for Education.
Thank you for taking action to fight poverty today. Feel free to forward this message to others!
If the link doesn't work, just call 202 456 1414 and ask President Obama to provide $2B for the creation of a Global Fund for Education.
Thank you for taking action to fight poverty today. Feel free to forward this message to others!
Thursday, January 29, 2009
House Passes American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
from Bread for the World...
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Late last night, the House of Representatives passed the $819 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. An unprecedented recession demands bold action; and the House bill provides that.
Roughly half of the funding in the $819 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is for programs that benefit low-income people, such as SNAP (food stamp) benefits, unemployment insurance, and refundable tax credits. This bill provides support to people hit the hardest by the recession and will help low-income families put food on the table.
Thank you for your phone calls, letters, and emails. They make a difference.
However, our work is not yet finished. The Senate will start debating their version of the economic stimulus plan on Monday, Feb. 2, 2009. All of us can contact our senators and urge them to act boldly. Encourage them to speedily pass a similar economic stimulus bill that will protect hungry and poor people who are suffering the most from the current recession as well as stimulate the economy to produce and retain jobs. You can find out how to contact your Senator at our Web site, www.bread.org.
Grace and peace,
David Beckmann
President
-------------------------
Late last night, the House of Representatives passed the $819 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. An unprecedented recession demands bold action; and the House bill provides that.
Roughly half of the funding in the $819 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is for programs that benefit low-income people, such as SNAP (food stamp) benefits, unemployment insurance, and refundable tax credits. This bill provides support to people hit the hardest by the recession and will help low-income families put food on the table.
Thank you for your phone calls, letters, and emails. They make a difference.
However, our work is not yet finished. The Senate will start debating their version of the economic stimulus plan on Monday, Feb. 2, 2009. All of us can contact our senators and urge them to act boldly. Encourage them to speedily pass a similar economic stimulus bill that will protect hungry and poor people who are suffering the most from the current recession as well as stimulate the economy to produce and retain jobs. You can find out how to contact your Senator at our Web site, www.bread.org.
Grace and peace,
David Beckmann
President
Friday, May 23, 2008
Recent Call-in for McGovern-Dole
Ever wonder if those group advocacy call-ins to Congress are effective? Wonder if your call does any good or if anybody else is calling? Here's a little anecdote from a Bread for the World colleague of mine that is quite inspiring! It refers to the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education Program which passed with only $84 million instead of $840 million that the House approved. Disclaimer: The source is not on staff at Bread for the World, so it's just a feel-good anecdote and not an official press release.
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"By the way - here's another story to lift the spirits of activists: About 3 weeks ago, BFW folks who had members of Congress on the farm bill conference committee, received an appeal for calls to support the House funding for McGovern-Dole. At that point the funding level in the conference bill was $60 million. Following the appeal, it was raised to $84 million. Afterwards, my BFW regional organizer said typically 1300 to 1400 calls are generated by their quickline appeals. For an increase of $24 million, assuming 1400 calls, each call was worth $17,000 for hungry kids- a pretty good return for about 3 minutes of effort."
-------------------------------------------------------------
"By the way - here's another story to lift the spirits of activists: About 3 weeks ago, BFW folks who had members of Congress on the farm bill conference committee, received an appeal for calls to support the House funding for McGovern-Dole. At that point the funding level in the conference bill was $60 million. Following the appeal, it was raised to $84 million. Afterwards, my BFW regional organizer said typically 1300 to 1400 calls are generated by their quickline appeals. For an increase of $24 million, assuming 1400 calls, each call was worth $17,000 for hungry kids- a pretty good return for about 3 minutes of effort."
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
GCFD Farm Bill Call-in/Web message
From the Greater Chicago Food Depository:
We are happy to report that our Congressional leaders are making progress toward passing a Farm Bill, which is the legislation that provides critical resources for national nutrition programs including both the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and the Food Stamp Program. If passed, the Farm Bill will provide more food to food banks through TEFAP and will make important improvements to the Food Stamp Program. These improvements are needed more than ever due to skyrocketing fuel and food prices. Additionally, the nation’s economic slowdown makes it increasingly difficult for many struggling families and individuals to make ends meet.
As negotiations enter the homestretch a final push is needed to ensure that Members of Congress get the message that they need to adequately fund critical hunger programs that help the hungry secure the food they need.
Please take action today and urge your Members of Congress to pass a final Farm Bill that provides strong support for national nutrition programs that feed low-income Americans.
Call your rep and senators now or take action now at this page...
https://secure2.convio.net/gcfd/site/AdvocacyJServSessionIdr007=2ymmlcrgm6.app6b&cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=119
We are happy to report that our Congressional leaders are making progress toward passing a Farm Bill, which is the legislation that provides critical resources for national nutrition programs including both the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and the Food Stamp Program. If passed, the Farm Bill will provide more food to food banks through TEFAP and will make important improvements to the Food Stamp Program. These improvements are needed more than ever due to skyrocketing fuel and food prices. Additionally, the nation’s economic slowdown makes it increasingly difficult for many struggling families and individuals to make ends meet.
As negotiations enter the homestretch a final push is needed to ensure that Members of Congress get the message that they need to adequately fund critical hunger programs that help the hungry secure the food they need.
Please take action today and urge your Members of Congress to pass a final Farm Bill that provides strong support for national nutrition programs that feed low-income Americans.
Call your rep and senators now or take action now at this page...
https://secure2.convio.net/gcfd/site/AdvocacyJServSessionIdr007=2ymmlcrgm6.app6b&cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=119
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Farm Bill Call in by Friday!
A call-in action about the Farm Bill! This message is from Bread for the World...
-------------------
We need you to take action right away to ensure the gains we've fought so hard for over the past year and half are not lost.
Please call your representative and senators by noon Eastern time Friday, April 25, at 1-800-826-3688. Tell them we must pass a new farm bill now, and must not lose the nutrition increases and food aid changes already passed. At a time of sharply rising food prices, these increases are especially critical. Modest commodity reform could pay for these increases without resorting to tax increases or other cuts.
Read the talking points below.
[Note: This toll-free number will connect you to the Capitol switchboard, where you will ask to be connected to your representative's office in order to leave your message.]
Background:
The House passed its version of the farm bill in July; the Senate did the same in December. Key representatives and senators are meeting now to reconcile the two different versions and prepare a conference report that sets out the terms of the final bill. However, conferees have been unable to agree on total funding for the bill and how to pay for it. The president has threatened to veto the bill if it includes funding mechanisms he does not approve or fails to incorporate adequate commodity program reform. The current farm bill is scheduled to expire on April 25.
Both the House and Senate bills included significant increases to the farm bill's nutrition programs, especially food stamps. These increases represented a powerful recognition of current needs in the food stamp program and food bank programs. Since then, food price inflation has accelerated, squeezing many low-income families. However, if Congress does not pass a new farm bill, we will lose the nutrition increases currently on the table. This will mean fewer families will receive the assistance they need to be assured of an adequate, nutritious diet.
Rising food prices are also having a devastating impact on poor people outside our country. Our food aid assistance is a critically important tool to help the poorest people in the world cope with the rapidly rising food prices that we are currently seeing. However, some provisions of our food aid programs cause inefficiencies that cost lives. One of the most direct changes we could make to our food aid programs is to provide the flexibility to purchase some of our food aid locally or regionally. A pilot study of how to buy food locally or regionally was rightly included in the Senate version of the farm bill. Though the original language was weakened by an amendment during the Senate floor debate, it is a good first step and should be retained in the final bill.
At the same time, the Senate- and House-passed bills do very little to make commodity programs fairer or more equitable. Neither version includes meaningful payment limits and both actually increase the most trade-distorting programs.
It's not too late to pass a final farm bill that addresses these issues. A few changes to the commodity programs would make the programs fairer for farm families of modest means while producing enough savings to pay for the nutrition increases we know are necessary. Funding is not an issue for the food aid pilot program, but conferees do need encouragement to include it in the final bill. The result would be farm bill that is better for poor people, in our own country and around the world.
See my recent interview on Bill Moyers Journal about rising food prices and the ways the farm bill could help mitigate their impact on the most vulnerable among us:
Message to Congress:
In this time of rising food prices, your statement of support for nutrition funding in the farm bill is especially critical! Modest reforms to make commodity programs more equitable could provide funds without risking a presidential veto. Please show your support for finishing the farm bill with the strongest nutrition title to help make great strides against hunger and poverty.
Key points:
Over 35 million Americans--including more that 12 million children--struggle to put food on the table.
With skyrocketing food prices, food stamp households need assistance now more than ever.
Failure to pass a new farm bill or extension of the current bill would mean that millions of low-income people will miss out on food stamp benefit increases on offer under the current conference proposals.
Modest reform of commodity programs could produce savings to redirect to low-income families through the food stamp program.
The Congress will miss a huge opportunity if they pass this Farm Bill without addressing the inefficiencies of our current food aid program. The local and regional purchase pilot program passed by the Senate should be retained in the final bill.
Calls need to be completed by: 12 noon (EST), April 25.
Thank you for your efforts on behalf of poor and hungry people,
David Beckmann
President of Bread for the World
-------------------
We need you to take action right away to ensure the gains we've fought so hard for over the past year and half are not lost.
Please call your representative and senators by noon Eastern time Friday, April 25, at 1-800-826-3688. Tell them we must pass a new farm bill now, and must not lose the nutrition increases and food aid changes already passed. At a time of sharply rising food prices, these increases are especially critical. Modest commodity reform could pay for these increases without resorting to tax increases or other cuts.
Read the talking points below.
[Note: This toll-free number will connect you to the Capitol switchboard, where you will ask to be connected to your representative's office in order to leave your message.]
Background:
The House passed its version of the farm bill in July; the Senate did the same in December. Key representatives and senators are meeting now to reconcile the two different versions and prepare a conference report that sets out the terms of the final bill. However, conferees have been unable to agree on total funding for the bill and how to pay for it. The president has threatened to veto the bill if it includes funding mechanisms he does not approve or fails to incorporate adequate commodity program reform. The current farm bill is scheduled to expire on April 25.
Both the House and Senate bills included significant increases to the farm bill's nutrition programs, especially food stamps. These increases represented a powerful recognition of current needs in the food stamp program and food bank programs. Since then, food price inflation has accelerated, squeezing many low-income families. However, if Congress does not pass a new farm bill, we will lose the nutrition increases currently on the table. This will mean fewer families will receive the assistance they need to be assured of an adequate, nutritious diet.
Rising food prices are also having a devastating impact on poor people outside our country. Our food aid assistance is a critically important tool to help the poorest people in the world cope with the rapidly rising food prices that we are currently seeing. However, some provisions of our food aid programs cause inefficiencies that cost lives. One of the most direct changes we could make to our food aid programs is to provide the flexibility to purchase some of our food aid locally or regionally. A pilot study of how to buy food locally or regionally was rightly included in the Senate version of the farm bill. Though the original language was weakened by an amendment during the Senate floor debate, it is a good first step and should be retained in the final bill.
At the same time, the Senate- and House-passed bills do very little to make commodity programs fairer or more equitable. Neither version includes meaningful payment limits and both actually increase the most trade-distorting programs.
It's not too late to pass a final farm bill that addresses these issues. A few changes to the commodity programs would make the programs fairer for farm families of modest means while producing enough savings to pay for the nutrition increases we know are necessary. Funding is not an issue for the food aid pilot program, but conferees do need encouragement to include it in the final bill. The result would be farm bill that is better for poor people, in our own country and around the world.
See my recent interview on Bill Moyers Journal about rising food prices and the ways the farm bill could help mitigate their impact on the most vulnerable among us:
Message to Congress:
In this time of rising food prices, your statement of support for nutrition funding in the farm bill is especially critical! Modest reforms to make commodity programs more equitable could provide funds without risking a presidential veto. Please show your support for finishing the farm bill with the strongest nutrition title to help make great strides against hunger and poverty.
Key points:
Over 35 million Americans--including more that 12 million children--struggle to put food on the table.
With skyrocketing food prices, food stamp households need assistance now more than ever.
Failure to pass a new farm bill or extension of the current bill would mean that millions of low-income people will miss out on food stamp benefit increases on offer under the current conference proposals.
Modest reform of commodity programs could produce savings to redirect to low-income families through the food stamp program.
The Congress will miss a huge opportunity if they pass this Farm Bill without addressing the inefficiencies of our current food aid program. The local and regional purchase pilot program passed by the Senate should be retained in the final bill.
Calls need to be completed by: 12 noon (EST), April 25.
Thank you for your efforts on behalf of poor and hungry people,
David Beckmann
President of Bread for the World
Monday, April 7, 2008
IL Call-in: Calls needed to Durbin about Foreign Operations bill
From Bread for the World:
--------------------------------------------------------
Four weeks ago, your voice was a crucial factor in an overwhelming 73-23 vote by the Senate to restore $4.1 Billion to the International Affairs Budget. This was a tremendous victory on the road to keeping our nation's promise to fulfill the Millennium Development Goals, but our work is far from over.
The next step in the budget process is ensuring this money is available for effective poverty-focused development assistance programs. (Note: If you are a Bread for the World member, you probably received an action alert about this in the mail in the past week)
Congressional leaders are currently setting spending limits for all of the appropriations bills, including for the State Department/Foreign Operations bill, which contains hope-giving and life-saving programs like the Child Survival and Health Fund. This is one of the most important steps in Bread for the World's campaign to boost poverty-focused development assistance by $5 Billion, and Senator Durbin is one of a small handful of leaders who will have a voice in making this happen.
By April 11, please call Senator Durbin at 1-800-826-3688. Message: please do all in your power to allocate at least $38.2 billion to the State Department/Foreign Operations subcommittee for fiscal year 2009. This special, toll-free number will connect you to the Capitol switchboard, where you can ask to be transferred to your senator Durbin's office.
Points to Make
The United States needs to increase funding to meet the commitments to hungry and poor people around the world.
We signed onto the Millennium Development Goals. We must do our part to meet them.
Poverty-focused development assistance goes to the programs that most directly address the root causes of hunger and poverty such as agriculture, clean water, nutrition, education and health.
After you have called, please click here to report your call. It literally only takes two clicks and it helps us make sure you have the most up-to-date information about this campaign.
More information about this call-in effort is available below. Thank you for raising your voice!
Peace and Blessings,
The Staff at Bread for the World
Why?
Congress is at an important point in the process of determining next year's budget. Congressional leaders will make decisions in the next few weeks that will greatly affect how much poverty-focused development assistance will be available next year. Your voice is important.
The leadership of the House and Senate appropriations committees are working now to determine fiscal year (FY) 2009 spending levels for each of the 12 federal appropriations bills(Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, etc.) These spending levels serve as caps on the amount of funding that Congress can allocate to each bill. One of the appropriations bills, State Department/Foreign Operations, contains almost all of U.S. foreign assistance programs, including those that fight hunger and poverty. Keeping the promises our country has made to fight global poverty, hunger and disease depends on securing the highest amount possible for State/Foreign Operations as a whole as we continue through the appropriations process.
Senator Durbin is one of a handful of leaders who will determine these allocations.
Later this year, we will be urging the State Foreign Operations subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee to appropriate the highest possible funding specifically for poverty-focused development assistance. We will have a better chance of success then, if they receive an adequate allocation now.
The responsibility for determining the overall funding level for State/Foreign Operations falls on the chairmen and ranking members (top Republicans) of the appropriations committees, the party leadership of the House and the Senate, and other influential members of Congress. As a constituent of Senator Durbin, you have an important role to play in securing this funding.
Background
Bread for the World's 2008 Offering of Letters is pushing for more and better poverty-focused development assistance - more: to fund programs in the U.S. budget that give people in poor countries the skills and opportunities to break the cycle of poverty permanently; better: to pass the Global Poverty Act, which requires greater coordination of U.S. efforts.
Nations around the world, including the United States, have already agreed to help achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), a set of eight international development goals to combat poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, environmental degradation, and promote gender equality. The U.N. Millennium Project estimates that to achieve the MDGs, the international community must significantly increase poverty-focused development assistance to poor countries. The goal is to globally contribute an additional $75 billion annually by 2010. For the United States to do its part, we must increase our spending on these effective programs by at least $5 billion a year. This funding would include long-term investments in education, agriculture, nutrition, health, and clean water.
The State Department/Foreign Operations spending bill must receive the largest allocation possible in order to fund programs that alleviate poverty and hunger. This allocation process determines whether or not we can keep our promise to help the world's poorest people.
--------------------------------------------------------
Four weeks ago, your voice was a crucial factor in an overwhelming 73-23 vote by the Senate to restore $4.1 Billion to the International Affairs Budget. This was a tremendous victory on the road to keeping our nation's promise to fulfill the Millennium Development Goals, but our work is far from over.
The next step in the budget process is ensuring this money is available for effective poverty-focused development assistance programs. (Note: If you are a Bread for the World member, you probably received an action alert about this in the mail in the past week)
Congressional leaders are currently setting spending limits for all of the appropriations bills, including for the State Department/Foreign Operations bill, which contains hope-giving and life-saving programs like the Child Survival and Health Fund. This is one of the most important steps in Bread for the World's campaign to boost poverty-focused development assistance by $5 Billion, and Senator Durbin is one of a small handful of leaders who will have a voice in making this happen.
By April 11, please call Senator Durbin at 1-800-826-3688. Message: please do all in your power to allocate at least $38.2 billion to the State Department/Foreign Operations subcommittee for fiscal year 2009. This special, toll-free number will connect you to the Capitol switchboard, where you can ask to be transferred to your senator Durbin's office.
Points to Make
The United States needs to increase funding to meet the commitments to hungry and poor people around the world.
We signed onto the Millennium Development Goals. We must do our part to meet them.
Poverty-focused development assistance goes to the programs that most directly address the root causes of hunger and poverty such as agriculture, clean water, nutrition, education and health.
After you have called, please click here to report your call. It literally only takes two clicks and it helps us make sure you have the most up-to-date information about this campaign.
More information about this call-in effort is available below. Thank you for raising your voice!
Peace and Blessings,
The Staff at Bread for the World
Why?
Congress is at an important point in the process of determining next year's budget. Congressional leaders will make decisions in the next few weeks that will greatly affect how much poverty-focused development assistance will be available next year. Your voice is important.
The leadership of the House and Senate appropriations committees are working now to determine fiscal year (FY) 2009 spending levels for each of the 12 federal appropriations bills(Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, etc.) These spending levels serve as caps on the amount of funding that Congress can allocate to each bill. One of the appropriations bills, State Department/Foreign Operations, contains almost all of U.S. foreign assistance programs, including those that fight hunger and poverty. Keeping the promises our country has made to fight global poverty, hunger and disease depends on securing the highest amount possible for State/Foreign Operations as a whole as we continue through the appropriations process.
Senator Durbin is one of a handful of leaders who will determine these allocations.
Later this year, we will be urging the State Foreign Operations subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee to appropriate the highest possible funding specifically for poverty-focused development assistance. We will have a better chance of success then, if they receive an adequate allocation now.
The responsibility for determining the overall funding level for State/Foreign Operations falls on the chairmen and ranking members (top Republicans) of the appropriations committees, the party leadership of the House and the Senate, and other influential members of Congress. As a constituent of Senator Durbin, you have an important role to play in securing this funding.
Background
Bread for the World's 2008 Offering of Letters is pushing for more and better poverty-focused development assistance - more: to fund programs in the U.S. budget that give people in poor countries the skills and opportunities to break the cycle of poverty permanently; better: to pass the Global Poverty Act, which requires greater coordination of U.S. efforts.
Nations around the world, including the United States, have already agreed to help achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), a set of eight international development goals to combat poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, environmental degradation, and promote gender equality. The U.N. Millennium Project estimates that to achieve the MDGs, the international community must significantly increase poverty-focused development assistance to poor countries. The goal is to globally contribute an additional $75 billion annually by 2010. For the United States to do its part, we must increase our spending on these effective programs by at least $5 billion a year. This funding would include long-term investments in education, agriculture, nutrition, health, and clean water.
The State Department/Foreign Operations spending bill must receive the largest allocation possible in order to fund programs that alleviate poverty and hunger. This allocation process determines whether or not we can keep our promise to help the world's poorest people.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Budget Call-in results: $4.1 Billion shortfall RESTORED!
From breadblog.org yesterday...
(FYI Obama and Clinton voted for this. McCain did not vote.)
------------------------
Early Friday morning of last week, the Senate decided overwhelmingly to restore the $4.1 Billion shortfall in the International Affairs Budget - which recommends funding levels for federal programs including effective anti-poverty efforts. The "Biden-Lugar Amendment" (S. Amdt 4245) passed 73-23 with overwhelming bipartisan support! (See how your senators voted here)
So here's what happened... Earlier last week, we asked you to called to support the Feinstein (D-CA) - Smith (R-OR) amendment to restore $2.6 billion to the International Affairs function of the FY09 budget resolution. Shortly after calls started to flood in (there were nearly a thousand calls from Bread supporters alone), we learned that Senators Biden (D-DE) and Lugar (R-IN) had decided to do even better and sponsor an amendment that brought the International Affairs back to the level of the president's request of $39.8 billion - a $4.1 Billion increase. So we turned our attention to the Biden-Lugar amendment which contained this bigger increase--and that amendment passed.
Bottom line: we couldn't have done this without you. This victory signals the power of grassroots demands for building a more just world. Moreover, this is an important first step in Bread for the World's campaign to increase poverty-focused development assistance by $5 billion next year.
Yet our work is not done. The budget resolution is just a spending blueprint and does not dictate the details of how this money should be spent. However the budget does send an important signal to appropriators who will be making these final decisions, and last Friday's vote shows the broad support these programs have.
Let's build on this momentum. Can you write a letter to the editor? Over the next few days, your local papers may run stories about the federal budget. We need to make sure the story focuses on what the budget resolution could mean for reducing poverty and giving hope to millions of our brothers and sisters around the world.
We also want to thank the senators that voted in favor of the amendment, and call those into account who did not. We have sample talking points if you need help getting started (see the 'comment' under this post), but your letter is always more likely to get published if it is original and comes from the heart. Please consider writing one, and if you have any questions, you can e-mail or call Shawnda Hines, Grassroots Media Associate at Bread, at shines@bread.org or at 888-752-7323 x2.
Thank you again for your passion for working to end hunger in our time.
(FYI Obama and Clinton voted for this. McCain did not vote.)
------------------------
Early Friday morning of last week, the Senate decided overwhelmingly to restore the $4.1 Billion shortfall in the International Affairs Budget - which recommends funding levels for federal programs including effective anti-poverty efforts. The "Biden-Lugar Amendment" (S. Amdt 4245) passed 73-23 with overwhelming bipartisan support! (See how your senators voted here)
So here's what happened... Earlier last week, we asked you to called to support the Feinstein (D-CA) - Smith (R-OR) amendment to restore $2.6 billion to the International Affairs function of the FY09 budget resolution. Shortly after calls started to flood in (there were nearly a thousand calls from Bread supporters alone), we learned that Senators Biden (D-DE) and Lugar (R-IN) had decided to do even better and sponsor an amendment that brought the International Affairs back to the level of the president's request of $39.8 billion - a $4.1 Billion increase. So we turned our attention to the Biden-Lugar amendment which contained this bigger increase--and that amendment passed.
Bottom line: we couldn't have done this without you. This victory signals the power of grassroots demands for building a more just world. Moreover, this is an important first step in Bread for the World's campaign to increase poverty-focused development assistance by $5 billion next year.
Yet our work is not done. The budget resolution is just a spending blueprint and does not dictate the details of how this money should be spent. However the budget does send an important signal to appropriators who will be making these final decisions, and last Friday's vote shows the broad support these programs have.
Let's build on this momentum. Can you write a letter to the editor? Over the next few days, your local papers may run stories about the federal budget. We need to make sure the story focuses on what the budget resolution could mean for reducing poverty and giving hope to millions of our brothers and sisters around the world.
We also want to thank the senators that voted in favor of the amendment, and call those into account who did not. We have sample talking points if you need help getting started (see the 'comment' under this post), but your letter is always more likely to get published if it is original and comes from the heart. Please consider writing one, and if you have any questions, you can e-mail or call Shawnda Hines, Grassroots Media Associate at Bread, at shines@bread.org or at 888-752-7323 x2.
Thank you again for your passion for working to end hunger in our time.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
IL Call-in: Restore cut in Int. Affairs Budget (poverty assistance at risk)
An action call-in from Bread for the World. Please call by end of day tomorrow to help with the budget for poverty-focused development assistance!
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PLEASE CALL CONGRESS TODAY!
MESSAGE: Please call Senator Barack Obama by 6:00 pm Eastern Time, Wednesday, March 12 at 1-800-826-3688. Ask your senator to cosponsor the Feinstein-Smith amendment to restore the cut in the International Affairs Budget proposed by the FY 2009 budget resolution.
[Note: This toll-free number will connect you to the Capitol switchboard, where you will ask to be connected to your senator’s office in order to leave your message.]
Key elements of this message:
The International Affairs budget is essential to building hope and opportunity around the world. The current FY 2009 Senate budget resolution shortchanges this important work. Please co-sponsor the Feinstein-Smith amendment to restore funding to the International Affairs account that was cut in the Budget Committee.
Background:
The budget resolution is the first step in the congressional decision-making process on the federal budget. The president submitted his request for the fiscal year 2009 budget on February 4th. His budget request included $39.8 billion for the International Affairs accounts, including foreign assistance. Not including emergency spending, this was almost a $5 billion increase over the fiscal year 2008 levels.
After the president submits his budget proposal, the Senate and the House Budget Committees develop separate budget resolutions. The budget resolution makes changes in tax policy and mandatory spending (i.e. Medicare, Social Security) and sets a ceiling for the total amount of discretionary spending (i.e. health research, defense, foreign assistance). The resolution provides non-binding guidance to the Appropriations Committee on the amount each area of discretionary spending should receive.
Last week, the two budget committees finished work on their respective resolutions. The Senate Budget Committee’s recommendation for International Affairs--$35.7 billion--is significantly less than the House resolution. The House Budget Committee recommended $38.3 billion for the International Affairs accounts.
The Feinstein-Smith amendment would restore $2.6 billion to the International Affairs budget in the Senate Budget Resolution to bring it in line with the higher level proposed by the House of Representatives. Your Senator's name on the amendment are crucial to making a real difference in the level of funding as the appropriations process moves forward. By asking your senator to cosponsor the amendment, we can show support for this increase and ensure its consideration on the Senate floor.
This first step in the fight over the International Affairs budget is a critical one to make sure we keep our promise to help the world's poorest people. Later, we'll work to make sure that enough of the International Affairs budget goes to the programs that are making a real difference in the developing world. But that fight will be much more difficult if we don't get a high level of funding here and now.
Key points:
- Co-sponsor the Feinstein-Smith amendment.
- In addition to supporting vital diplomatic efforts around the world, the International Affairs budget also supports effective programs focused on poverty reduction by improving agriculture, nutrition, health, water and education systems.
- The U.S. should not shortchange these critical programs affecting millions of poor and hungry people around the world.
Calls completed by: 6:00 pm Wednesday, March 12.
--------------------------------------------------------
PLEASE CALL CONGRESS TODAY!
MESSAGE: Please call Senator Barack Obama by 6:00 pm Eastern Time, Wednesday, March 12 at 1-800-826-3688. Ask your senator to cosponsor the Feinstein-Smith amendment to restore the cut in the International Affairs Budget proposed by the FY 2009 budget resolution.
[Note: This toll-free number will connect you to the Capitol switchboard, where you will ask to be connected to your senator’s office in order to leave your message.]
Key elements of this message:
The International Affairs budget is essential to building hope and opportunity around the world. The current FY 2009 Senate budget resolution shortchanges this important work. Please co-sponsor the Feinstein-Smith amendment to restore funding to the International Affairs account that was cut in the Budget Committee.
Background:
The budget resolution is the first step in the congressional decision-making process on the federal budget. The president submitted his request for the fiscal year 2009 budget on February 4th. His budget request included $39.8 billion for the International Affairs accounts, including foreign assistance. Not including emergency spending, this was almost a $5 billion increase over the fiscal year 2008 levels.
After the president submits his budget proposal, the Senate and the House Budget Committees develop separate budget resolutions. The budget resolution makes changes in tax policy and mandatory spending (i.e. Medicare, Social Security) and sets a ceiling for the total amount of discretionary spending (i.e. health research, defense, foreign assistance). The resolution provides non-binding guidance to the Appropriations Committee on the amount each area of discretionary spending should receive.
Last week, the two budget committees finished work on their respective resolutions. The Senate Budget Committee’s recommendation for International Affairs--$35.7 billion--is significantly less than the House resolution. The House Budget Committee recommended $38.3 billion for the International Affairs accounts.
The Feinstein-Smith amendment would restore $2.6 billion to the International Affairs budget in the Senate Budget Resolution to bring it in line with the higher level proposed by the House of Representatives. Your Senator's name on the amendment are crucial to making a real difference in the level of funding as the appropriations process moves forward. By asking your senator to cosponsor the amendment, we can show support for this increase and ensure its consideration on the Senate floor.
This first step in the fight over the International Affairs budget is a critical one to make sure we keep our promise to help the world's poorest people. Later, we'll work to make sure that enough of the International Affairs budget goes to the programs that are making a real difference in the developing world. But that fight will be much more difficult if we don't get a high level of funding here and now.
Key points:
- Co-sponsor the Feinstein-Smith amendment.
- In addition to supporting vital diplomatic efforts around the world, the International Affairs budget also supports effective programs focused on poverty reduction by improving agriculture, nutrition, health, water and education systems.
- The U.S. should not shortchange these critical programs affecting millions of poor and hungry people around the world.
Calls completed by: 6:00 pm Wednesday, March 12.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Action for IL residents: Call-in to Obama
From Bread for the World...
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Although we were not able to win the type of commodity reform that we wanted this time around, the Senate's farm bill does make significant new investments to anti-hunger programs like Food Stamps. HOWEVER, we have discovered that these new investments in the Food Stamp Program are not secure and will be taken away in 5 years unless we act. This represents a false promise to millions of vulnerable Americans who will see their benefits expand in 2008, only to have the increase taken away five years later.
MESSAGE: Please call Senator Obama by 5:00 pm Eastern time on Friday, January 25, at 1-800-826-3688. Ask the Senator to sign the dear colleague letter on farm bill nutrition funding that Senators Robert Casey (D-PA) and Richard Durbin (D-IL) are currently circulating. The letter urges leaders of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees to make sure the farm bill conference report includes permanent funding for nutrition programs at the higher Senate-passed levels. Click here to let us know you called.
[Note: This toll-free number will connect you to the Capitol switchboard, where you will ask to be connected to your senator’s office in order to leave your message.]
Calls completed by: 5 pm Friday, January 25.
----------------------------------
Although we were not able to win the type of commodity reform that we wanted this time around, the Senate's farm bill does make significant new investments to anti-hunger programs like Food Stamps. HOWEVER, we have discovered that these new investments in the Food Stamp Program are not secure and will be taken away in 5 years unless we act. This represents a false promise to millions of vulnerable Americans who will see their benefits expand in 2008, only to have the increase taken away five years later.
MESSAGE: Please call Senator Obama by 5:00 pm Eastern time on Friday, January 25, at 1-800-826-3688. Ask the Senator to sign the dear colleague letter on farm bill nutrition funding that Senators Robert Casey (D-PA) and Richard Durbin (D-IL) are currently circulating. The letter urges leaders of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees to make sure the farm bill conference report includes permanent funding for nutrition programs at the higher Senate-passed levels. Click here to let us know you called.
[Note: This toll-free number will connect you to the Capitol switchboard, where you will ask to be connected to your senator’s office in order to leave your message.]
Calls completed by: 5 pm Friday, January 25.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
You can still call in until 2:30PM on the Farm Bill!
You can STILL CALL TODAY up until 2:30 pm EST, when we are hearing that they will actually start voting on amendments and the farm bill. Here's the call-in information again.
Call 1-800-826-3688 (ask for each of your senators' offices) and urge them to support:
• The FRESH Amendment;
• The Dorgan-Grassley Amendment
• The Brown-Sununu Amendment; and
• Any other amendments that help make our commodity payments fairer for all farmers and provide additional funding for the Food Stamp Program.
If you want to see a video on how to call-in to your senators, here is a demonstation:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgmKEAsfgok&eurl=http://www.breadblog.org/
Call 1-800-826-3688 (ask for each of your senators' offices) and urge them to support:
• The FRESH Amendment;
• The Dorgan-Grassley Amendment
• The Brown-Sununu Amendment; and
• Any other amendments that help make our commodity payments fairer for all farmers and provide additional funding for the Food Stamp Program.
If you want to see a video on how to call-in to your senators, here is a demonstation:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgmKEAsfgok&eurl=http://www.breadblog.org/
Monday, December 10, 2007
BREAKING NEWS: Farm Bill vote TOMORROW!!!! Call in!
BREAKING NEWS: the Senate will be debating and voting on the Farm Bill TOMORROW DEC 11th!!!!
I've seen 2 very optimistic updates on the farm bill in the last 24 hrs. I'm not going to be disappointed in the length of the process if it turns out that we get some real reform in the end! The worst thing that could've happened is for the bill to be rushed through with a completely status quo result and no real debate. So, that does not appear to be happening!
The stalling was happening in the part of the process where the Senate decides on what amendments are even going to be considered. A deal has been achieved where both Reps and Dems will offer 20 amendments to the farm bill. Which should, as I understand it, be able to encompass the biggies that Bread for the World has been pushing for (Grassely-Dorgan, Lugar-Lautenberg, etc).
So call those senators if you haven't already:
1-800-826-3688 ask them to support:
• The FRESH Amendment;
• The Dorgan-Grassley Amendment
• The Brown-Sununu Amendment; and
• Any other amendments that help make our commodity payments fairer for all farmers and provide additional funding for the Food Stamp Program.
If you want to see a video on how to talk to your senators, here is a demonstation:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgmKEAsfgok&eurl=http://www.breadblog.org/
It's actually a beautiful little piece that I can't believe we haven't seen before! good luck!
I've seen 2 very optimistic updates on the farm bill in the last 24 hrs. I'm not going to be disappointed in the length of the process if it turns out that we get some real reform in the end! The worst thing that could've happened is for the bill to be rushed through with a completely status quo result and no real debate. So, that does not appear to be happening!
The stalling was happening in the part of the process where the Senate decides on what amendments are even going to be considered. A deal has been achieved where both Reps and Dems will offer 20 amendments to the farm bill. Which should, as I understand it, be able to encompass the biggies that Bread for the World has been pushing for (Grassely-Dorgan, Lugar-Lautenberg, etc).
So call those senators if you haven't already:
1-800-826-3688 ask them to support:
• The FRESH Amendment;
• The Dorgan-Grassley Amendment
• The Brown-Sununu Amendment; and
• Any other amendments that help make our commodity payments fairer for all farmers and provide additional funding for the Food Stamp Program.
If you want to see a video on how to talk to your senators, here is a demonstation:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgmKEAsfgok&eurl=http://www.breadblog.org/
It's actually a beautiful little piece that I can't believe we haven't seen before! good luck!
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Farm Bill vote next week
It appears as though the Senate may move on the Farm Bill again next week. It seems like we just had a call-in, but things are not looking up with all this stalling in the Senate. Consider this quote from the New York Times today: "As it has pressed to keep its subsidies, about $26 billion in the current bill, agribusiness has contributed $415 million to federal political campaigns since 1990, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. The hungry don’t have much of a lobby." WE are the lobby for the hungry. We don't have millions of dollars at our disposal, but Bread for the World and its partners strive to influence change using tools we have abundantly: faith and voice. Please exercise your faith and voice now.
And if you spend 10 minutes making your 2 calls to your senators and want to do more, visit http://www.bread.org/take-action/take-action-farm-bill.html and write a letter to the editor. Right now, the best way to get more senators to vote for reform amendments is by writing letters to the editor in local papers. Because they are read by thousands of voters, letters to the editor get the attention of decision-makers in a forceful way. If you are in my area, know that the Pioneer Press is likely to print almost everything they get (as long as it's logical and fairly concise). If you're extra ambitious, write a letter to the NY Times in response to the article I cited:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/07/opinion/07fri2.html?ex=1197694800&en=2325a0f29bb98501&ei=5070
Here's the Bread for the World info for calling in...
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The Senate votes on the farm bill this week, one of the most vital pieces of legislation for struggling farmers and hungry people in our country and around the world. By asking our senators for farm bill reform, we can help improve people’s lives and, in so doing, prepare a path for justice.
Call the Capitol using Bread for the World’s toll-free number
1-800-826-3688
Call your senators on Mon., Dec. 10, and ask them to support:
• The FRESH Amendment; (aka the Lugar-Lautenberg Ammendment)
• The Dorgan-Grassley Amendment
• The Brown-Sununu Amendment
The Menendez Ammendment; and
• Any other amendments that help make our commodity payments fairer for all farmers and provide additional funding for the Food Stamp Program.
And if you spend 10 minutes making your 2 calls to your senators and want to do more, visit http://www.bread.org/take-action/take-action-farm-bill.html and write a letter to the editor. Right now, the best way to get more senators to vote for reform amendments is by writing letters to the editor in local papers. Because they are read by thousands of voters, letters to the editor get the attention of decision-makers in a forceful way. If you are in my area, know that the Pioneer Press is likely to print almost everything they get (as long as it's logical and fairly concise). If you're extra ambitious, write a letter to the NY Times in response to the article I cited:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/07/opinion/07fri2.html?ex=1197694800&en=2325a0f29bb98501&ei=5070
Here's the Bread for the World info for calling in...
---------------------------------------
The Senate votes on the farm bill this week, one of the most vital pieces of legislation for struggling farmers and hungry people in our country and around the world. By asking our senators for farm bill reform, we can help improve people’s lives and, in so doing, prepare a path for justice.
Call the Capitol using Bread for the World’s toll-free number
1-800-826-3688
Call your senators on Mon., Dec. 10, and ask them to support:
• The FRESH Amendment; (aka the Lugar-Lautenberg Ammendment)
• The Dorgan-Grassley Amendment
• The Brown-Sununu Amendment
The Menendez Ammendment; and
• Any other amendments that help make our commodity payments fairer for all farmers and provide additional funding for the Food Stamp Program.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
CALL YOUR SENATORS AGAIN! (new ammendment proposals)
It looks like the Senate floor debate will be lengthy. Close to 100 amendments have already been filed. Our most important amendments are scheduled to be introduced first so it is imperative that you call today if you have not already done so. The toll-free number and talking points are listed below.
Please call your senators toll-free RIGHT NOW at 1-800-826-3688. Urge them to support the following amendments to the farm bill as they come to the floor:
Lugar/Lautenberg Amendment
Grassley/Dorgan Amendment
NEW: Brown/Sununu Amendment
NEW: Menendez Amendment
Other amendments that strengthen nutrition programs
(Note: This toll-free number will connect you to the Capitol switchboard; please ask to be connected to your senator’s office in order to leave your message.)
The Senate vote on the farm bill will make a critical difference in whether the 2007 farm bill will include changes that benefit hungry and poor people in the United States and around the world and make programs more fair for U.S. farm and rural families.
Here's some info on what those amendments are:
Lugar/Lautenberg Amendment: Would broaden the agricultural safety net by making a free revenue insurance program available to all farmers, saving billions of dollars to be used for nutrition, conservation, the McGovern-Dole international school meals program and more.
Grassley/Dorgan Amendment: Would cap commodity payments at $250,000 per household, helping ensure that payments are targeted to those who need them.
NEW: Brown/Sununu Amendment: Would reform crop insurance programs to bring the insurance companies' underwriting gains more into line with other types of insurance and lower their Administration & Operations ('A&O') reimbursement. No farmers would see any change in their premium costs or coverage. It would save money to reinvest in food stamps, conservation and McGovern-Dole international school feeding program.
NEW: Menendez Amendment: Would make a small cut to Direct Payments and reinvest the savings in food stamps and conservation.
Other amendments that add funding to nutrition programs: Several other amendments will likely be offered to increase funding for the Food Stamp Program and other vital nutrition programs.
The amendments would improve the Agriculture Committee's bill: providing a safety net for all farmers—not just those who grow program crops; making our commodity system fairer for smaller family farmers; and adequately funding vital needs in nutrition.
Please call your senators toll-free RIGHT NOW at 1-800-826-3688. Urge them to support the following amendments to the farm bill as they come to the floor:
Lugar/Lautenberg Amendment
Grassley/Dorgan Amendment
NEW: Brown/Sununu Amendment
NEW: Menendez Amendment
Other amendments that strengthen nutrition programs
(Note: This toll-free number will connect you to the Capitol switchboard; please ask to be connected to your senator’s office in order to leave your message.)
The Senate vote on the farm bill will make a critical difference in whether the 2007 farm bill will include changes that benefit hungry and poor people in the United States and around the world and make programs more fair for U.S. farm and rural families.
Here's some info on what those amendments are:
Lugar/Lautenberg Amendment: Would broaden the agricultural safety net by making a free revenue insurance program available to all farmers, saving billions of dollars to be used for nutrition, conservation, the McGovern-Dole international school meals program and more.
Grassley/Dorgan Amendment: Would cap commodity payments at $250,000 per household, helping ensure that payments are targeted to those who need them.
NEW: Brown/Sununu Amendment: Would reform crop insurance programs to bring the insurance companies' underwriting gains more into line with other types of insurance and lower their Administration & Operations ('A&O') reimbursement. No farmers would see any change in their premium costs or coverage. It would save money to reinvest in food stamps, conservation and McGovern-Dole international school feeding program.
NEW: Menendez Amendment: Would make a small cut to Direct Payments and reinvest the savings in food stamps and conservation.
Other amendments that add funding to nutrition programs: Several other amendments will likely be offered to increase funding for the Food Stamp Program and other vital nutrition programs.
The amendments would improve the Agriculture Committee's bill: providing a safety net for all farmers—not just those who grow program crops; making our commodity system fairer for smaller family farmers; and adequately funding vital needs in nutrition.
Friday, November 2, 2007
Farm Bill Call in! Call by 11/5!
Now is the time for much-needed action on the Farm Bill. Please see the message below and make your calls!
Please call Senators Durbin and Obama by Monday, November 5, at 1-800-826-3688. Ask them to support the following amendments to the farm bill as they come up on the floor:
Lugar/Lautenberg Amendment
Grassley/Dorgan Amendment
Other amendments that strengthen nutrition programs
[Note: This toll-free number will connect you to the Capitol switchboard, where you will ask to be connected to your senator’s office in order to leave your message.]
Background:
The full Senate will begin debating the farm bill on Monday, November 5. Votes on specific amendments will likely begin on Tuesday, November 6. Your senator has a critical voice in deciding whether our farm bill will be changed in ways that benefit poor and hungry people here at home and around the world, make programs fairer for U.S. farm and rural families and enable poor farmers in poor countries to earn their way out of poverty. Please call as soon as possible.
The farm bill passed by the Senate Agriculture Committee made modest changes, but did little to reform unfair commodity programs. The full Senate now has its turn to reform the farm bill. Senators have a chance to strengthen the nutrition program (especially the Food Stamp Program) and conservation and rural development programs and make the commodity programs fairer to all our nations’ farmers. It is their turn to seize the opportunity to create a more just farm bill.
*Lugar/Lautenberg Amendment: The Lugar-Lautenberg amendment would broaden the agricultural safety net by making a free revenue insurance program available to all farmers. This would save billions dollars that would be used to invest in nutrition programs, specialty crop programs (improving research and marketing opportunities for the majority of farmers, who currently do not benefit at all from farm programs); critical conservation programs and the McGovern-Dole international school feeding program.
*Grassley/Dorgan Amendment: The Grassley-Dorgan amendment would establish a hard cap for commodity payments at $250,000 per household, helping ensure payments are targeted where they are needed. The amendment would also make sure that payments flow to working farmers rather than their landlords. The money saved from capping payments to the largest producers and landowners would be redirected into nutrition and conservation programs.
*Other amendments that add funding to nutrition: At stake are additional investments in the Food Stamp Program—especially the standard deduction level. There will be several amendments offered to increase funding for nutrition programs. Senators should support amendments that build on the improvements made in the Senate Agriculture Committee.
Message:
Your vote on the farm bill can help make great strides against hunger and poverty here at home and around the world. Support amendments like Lugar/Lautenberg, Grassley/Dorgan, and other amendments that put additional funding into nutrition programs. These amendments would provide a safety net for all farmers—not just those who grow program crops, make our commodity system fairer for smaller family farmers and adequately fund other vital needs in nutrition.
Key points:
- Over 35 million Americans- including more that 12 million children- struggle to put food on the table. Please strengthen and commit new resources to the Food Stamp Program.
- Current farm and rural development programs are not serving the urgent needs of rural America, where rates of hunger and poverty are higher. Please prioritize the needs of poor rural Americans as you write the 2007 farm bill.
- Current commodity programs concentrate payments at the upper end of the income scale for farmers who grow program crops, like cotton, corn, wheat, soybeans and rice. This trend has accelerated in recent years. By 2003, one quarter went to households earning more than $160,142. This must change.
- A fair and balanced farm bill for the U.S. also requires consideration of its impact on poor farmers overseas. Please ensure that our farm support programs do not make it more difficult for poor farm families in low-income countries to earn their way out of poverty.
- Make the primary focus of U.S. food aid programs the feeding of hungry people by the most effective and efficient means available and building long-term food security.
Calls completed by: C.O.B. Monday, November 5.
Please call Senators Durbin and Obama by Monday, November 5, at 1-800-826-3688. Ask them to support the following amendments to the farm bill as they come up on the floor:
Lugar/Lautenberg Amendment
Grassley/Dorgan Amendment
Other amendments that strengthen nutrition programs
[Note: This toll-free number will connect you to the Capitol switchboard, where you will ask to be connected to your senator’s office in order to leave your message.]
Background:
The full Senate will begin debating the farm bill on Monday, November 5. Votes on specific amendments will likely begin on Tuesday, November 6. Your senator has a critical voice in deciding whether our farm bill will be changed in ways that benefit poor and hungry people here at home and around the world, make programs fairer for U.S. farm and rural families and enable poor farmers in poor countries to earn their way out of poverty. Please call as soon as possible.
The farm bill passed by the Senate Agriculture Committee made modest changes, but did little to reform unfair commodity programs. The full Senate now has its turn to reform the farm bill. Senators have a chance to strengthen the nutrition program (especially the Food Stamp Program) and conservation and rural development programs and make the commodity programs fairer to all our nations’ farmers. It is their turn to seize the opportunity to create a more just farm bill.
*Lugar/Lautenberg Amendment: The Lugar-Lautenberg amendment would broaden the agricultural safety net by making a free revenue insurance program available to all farmers. This would save billions dollars that would be used to invest in nutrition programs, specialty crop programs (improving research and marketing opportunities for the majority of farmers, who currently do not benefit at all from farm programs); critical conservation programs and the McGovern-Dole international school feeding program.
*Grassley/Dorgan Amendment: The Grassley-Dorgan amendment would establish a hard cap for commodity payments at $250,000 per household, helping ensure payments are targeted where they are needed. The amendment would also make sure that payments flow to working farmers rather than their landlords. The money saved from capping payments to the largest producers and landowners would be redirected into nutrition and conservation programs.
*Other amendments that add funding to nutrition: At stake are additional investments in the Food Stamp Program—especially the standard deduction level. There will be several amendments offered to increase funding for nutrition programs. Senators should support amendments that build on the improvements made in the Senate Agriculture Committee.
Message:
Your vote on the farm bill can help make great strides against hunger and poverty here at home and around the world. Support amendments like Lugar/Lautenberg, Grassley/Dorgan, and other amendments that put additional funding into nutrition programs. These amendments would provide a safety net for all farmers—not just those who grow program crops, make our commodity system fairer for smaller family farmers and adequately fund other vital needs in nutrition.
Key points:
- Over 35 million Americans- including more that 12 million children- struggle to put food on the table. Please strengthen and commit new resources to the Food Stamp Program.
- Current farm and rural development programs are not serving the urgent needs of rural America, where rates of hunger and poverty are higher. Please prioritize the needs of poor rural Americans as you write the 2007 farm bill.
- Current commodity programs concentrate payments at the upper end of the income scale for farmers who grow program crops, like cotton, corn, wheat, soybeans and rice. This trend has accelerated in recent years. By 2003, one quarter went to households earning more than $160,142. This must change.
- A fair and balanced farm bill for the U.S. also requires consideration of its impact on poor farmers overseas. Please ensure that our farm support programs do not make it more difficult for poor farm families in low-income countries to earn their way out of poverty.
- Make the primary focus of U.S. food aid programs the feeding of hungry people by the most effective and efficient means available and building long-term food security.
Calls completed by: C.O.B. Monday, November 5.
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Farm Bill News FAQ: "what happened?" "what's with the Dems?" "Is it over?"
In the interest of timeliness, I previously copied a few detailed articles I found that summed up farm bill news. But I've had a few very good questions that I'll try to answer concisely.
"So...what happened exactly? Did our call-ins work?"
Yes and no. The bad news is that the farm subsidy program is largely unchanged. Under this Farm Bill version, large farms will continue to get most of the subsidies while farmers of modest means will continue to struggle. Developing countries will be locked out of selling their products. The WTO may sue us over cotton subsidies. So, that didn't work. But the good news is that to get that passed, the Status Quo reps had to sweeten the pot for the on-the-fencer's by giving more food stamp assistance, nutrition stuff, rural development and conservation programs. So, that part did work. The bummer is that those nice things might not actually get funded. If the subsidy part had been cut more, the money could have come from there.
"I don't understand why so many Democrats voted against the reform amendment and for the Farm Bill. What do you think?"
Dems are having a really hard time keeping together on this one. They're trying to hold their majority and show they can run Congress effectively. A powerful "farm bloc" feels strongly about keeping subsidies high although it flies in the face of what democrats stand for. These reps are backed by large farms that eat up most of the subsidy payments and they don't want to lose support. Rep Zack Space from Ohio is an example. He's a freshman Dem rep, outspoken in saying things like "my constituents are pretty comfortable with things the way they are." Meaning: those with clout to get him replaced with a Republlican are happy with fat subsidies. Poor constituents with no influence are probably not happy at all. I've also heard some Dem reps personally receive those subsidies. A legal conflict of interest?
"Why are Republicans against the Farm Bill?"
In order to pay for the last minute adds, a tax on foreign countries- that can be used as tax havens for US subsidiaries- was put in that has the GOP against the bill. Republicans cite this as a partisan move to add taxes to what was a bipartisan bill.
"Is it over?"
Oh no. Things aren't looking great, but this thing is far from over. The White House threatened to veto if significant subsidy caps aren't in place. Bush can still do this. And the Senate debate is just beginning. The House and Senate must pass their own versions of the bill, then Congress has to reconcile the two for the final bill. Now it's more important than ever to write/call your senators about this. And if your senator is running for president, try extra hard to catch their attention. Like writing a letter to the editor with their name in it. Their printed name gets them looking more than anything!
"So...what happened exactly? Did our call-ins work?"
Yes and no. The bad news is that the farm subsidy program is largely unchanged. Under this Farm Bill version, large farms will continue to get most of the subsidies while farmers of modest means will continue to struggle. Developing countries will be locked out of selling their products. The WTO may sue us over cotton subsidies. So, that didn't work. But the good news is that to get that passed, the Status Quo reps had to sweeten the pot for the on-the-fencer's by giving more food stamp assistance, nutrition stuff, rural development and conservation programs. So, that part did work. The bummer is that those nice things might not actually get funded. If the subsidy part had been cut more, the money could have come from there.
"I don't understand why so many Democrats voted against the reform amendment and for the Farm Bill. What do you think?"
Dems are having a really hard time keeping together on this one. They're trying to hold their majority and show they can run Congress effectively. A powerful "farm bloc" feels strongly about keeping subsidies high although it flies in the face of what democrats stand for. These reps are backed by large farms that eat up most of the subsidy payments and they don't want to lose support. Rep Zack Space from Ohio is an example. He's a freshman Dem rep, outspoken in saying things like "my constituents are pretty comfortable with things the way they are." Meaning: those with clout to get him replaced with a Republlican are happy with fat subsidies. Poor constituents with no influence are probably not happy at all. I've also heard some Dem reps personally receive those subsidies. A legal conflict of interest?
"Why are Republicans against the Farm Bill?"
In order to pay for the last minute adds, a tax on foreign countries- that can be used as tax havens for US subsidiaries- was put in that has the GOP against the bill. Republicans cite this as a partisan move to add taxes to what was a bipartisan bill.
"Is it over?"
Oh no. Things aren't looking great, but this thing is far from over. The White House threatened to veto if significant subsidy caps aren't in place. Bush can still do this. And the Senate debate is just beginning. The House and Senate must pass their own versions of the bill, then Congress has to reconcile the two for the final bill. Now it's more important than ever to write/call your senators about this. And if your senator is running for president, try extra hard to catch their attention. Like writing a letter to the editor with their name in it. Their printed name gets them looking more than anything!
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Farm Bill vote on THURS. Call Now!!
This week the House will be voting on the farm bill. Last Thursday, the full Agriculture Committee voted to implement little change to the 2002 farm bill, yet called those modest changes "reform". Now is the time for your member of Congress to know that those changes are not sufficient for struggling farmers or hungry people here or around the world. We can and must do better. As a more just alternative, Reps. Ron Kind (D-WI) and Jeff Flake (R-AZ) will offer the Fairness in Farm and Food Policy Amendment. Your representative's vote for this amendment is critical. It is time to support real reform and fairness in America's farm and food policy.
Please call your representative by NOON, Thursday, July 26, at 1-800-826-3688. Urge your representative to vote for the Fairness in Farm and Food Policy Amendment offered by Reps. Ron Kind and Jeff Flake. Let Congress know that the House Agriculture Committee's version of the farm bill does little to change the inequities of farm payments and it must be amended.
[Note: This toll-free number will connect you to the Capitol switchboard, where you will ask to be connected to your representative’s office in order to leave your message.]
Read about the Fairness in Farm and Food Policy Amendment and learn why your action is so vital.
Talking points:
-The House Agriculture Committee sent out a bill that makes minimal changes, falling far short of its claims to help all farmers equitably and fairly. The Committee missed its opportunity to design a safety net that works better for American farmers and to bring the farm bill more in line with realties of rural poverty.
-The Fairness in Farm and Food Policy Amendment addresses many concerns left behind by the Committee bill.
-The Fairness Amendment provides critical funding to strengthen nutrition programs, rural communities, conservation programs, without relying on uncertain funding from outside of the committee.
-The priorities in the Fairness Amendment reflect the priorities of most Americans—not just the few, powerful interests that have dominated the debate for decades.
-As your constituent, I urge you to vote for the Fairness in Farm and Food Policy Amendment when it is offered on the floor.
Thanks for calling today!
Please call your representative by NOON, Thursday, July 26, at 1-800-826-3688. Urge your representative to vote for the Fairness in Farm and Food Policy Amendment offered by Reps. Ron Kind and Jeff Flake. Let Congress know that the House Agriculture Committee's version of the farm bill does little to change the inequities of farm payments and it must be amended.
[Note: This toll-free number will connect you to the Capitol switchboard, where you will ask to be connected to your representative’s office in order to leave your message.]
Read about the Fairness in Farm and Food Policy Amendment and learn why your action is so vital.
Talking points:
-The House Agriculture Committee sent out a bill that makes minimal changes, falling far short of its claims to help all farmers equitably and fairly. The Committee missed its opportunity to design a safety net that works better for American farmers and to bring the farm bill more in line with realties of rural poverty.
-The Fairness in Farm and Food Policy Amendment addresses many concerns left behind by the Committee bill.
-The Fairness Amendment provides critical funding to strengthen nutrition programs, rural communities, conservation programs, without relying on uncertain funding from outside of the committee.
-The priorities in the Fairness Amendment reflect the priorities of most Americans—not just the few, powerful interests that have dominated the debate for decades.
-As your constituent, I urge you to vote for the Fairness in Farm and Food Policy Amendment when it is offered on the floor.
Thanks for calling today!
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Farm Bill Vote in House THIS WEEK
The Washington Post reported that the not-very-reformed-at-all version of the Farm Bill was approved last Thursday and the full House is expected to vote on it next week.
Bread for the World president David Beckmann said, "Neither of the two bills presented by Chairman Peterson shows marked improvement for farmers of modest means or for the millions of hungry and poor families in this country and around the world.
As usual, people who need help the most are at the bottom of the priority list. Without a guaranteed source of funding for federal nutrition programs, the 'reform' option is no more than a wish list."
The farm bill is expected to go to the House floor before the August recess, perhaps as early as July 24. Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, has said that his committee will also take up the farm bill in July. So your members of Congress – whether or not they sit on an agriculture committee – need to hear now from their constituents that the version of the farm bill which comes to the House and Senate floors must contain improvements.
To take action, please see the web site http://www.bread.org/take-action/take-action-seeds-of-change.html for information on how to call your members of Congress. If you choose to write a letter, faxing is a better option due to time constraint!
Bread for the World president David Beckmann said, "Neither of the two bills presented by Chairman Peterson shows marked improvement for farmers of modest means or for the millions of hungry and poor families in this country and around the world.
As usual, people who need help the most are at the bottom of the priority list. Without a guaranteed source of funding for federal nutrition programs, the 'reform' option is no more than a wish list."
The farm bill is expected to go to the House floor before the August recess, perhaps as early as July 24. Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, has said that his committee will also take up the farm bill in July. So your members of Congress – whether or not they sit on an agriculture committee – need to hear now from their constituents that the version of the farm bill which comes to the House and Senate floors must contain improvements.
To take action, please see the web site http://www.bread.org/take-action/take-action-seeds-of-change.html for information on how to call your members of Congress. If you choose to write a letter, faxing is a better option due to time constraint!
Thursday, June 21, 2007
House State/Foreign Operations Bill today
The House of Representatives is scheduled to vote TODAY on the State/Foreign Operations bill (HR 2764) for fiscal year 2008. Yesterday, Bread for the World held a call-in day to call our representatives. The message was to support the bill and oppose any amendments to cut poverty-focused development assistance.
-The funding in this bill is critical to meeting our country's commitments to hungry and poor people around the world.
-The U.S. devotes less than one-half of one percent of its budget to poverty-focused development assistance.
-Poverty-focused development assistance includes vital cost-effective programs that provide nutrition, clean water, health care and basic education so that families can build a better life for their children. I believe we should be doing more to improve the health, nutrition, and opportunity of people around the world.
-Amendments are being planned to cut these important resources.
Sorry this was a little late. I'll try to put call-in day stuff up ahead of time. Hey! It's a new thing! I'm working on it!
-The funding in this bill is critical to meeting our country's commitments to hungry and poor people around the world.
-The U.S. devotes less than one-half of one percent of its budget to poverty-focused development assistance.
-Poverty-focused development assistance includes vital cost-effective programs that provide nutrition, clean water, health care and basic education so that families can build a better life for their children. I believe we should be doing more to improve the health, nutrition, and opportunity of people around the world.
-Amendments are being planned to cut these important resources.
Sorry this was a little late. I'll try to put call-in day stuff up ahead of time. Hey! It's a new thing! I'm working on it!
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