News

IMPORTANT: Please Help Protect the Food Safety Net by Calling Our Senators Today!

Release Date - Jun 19, 2012

Today we need your help to prevent harmful cuts to one of the country's largest safety nets for struggling families. The Senate is going to vote today on the Farm Bill, and we are asking you to please call our Senators and let them know that you support hunger relief and the programs that provide it. The Farm Bill is important because it is the bill that covers funding for things like TEFAP and SNAP (food stamps). Since the recession started the number of Americans on the SNAP program has swelled to 46 million. That's 1 in every 7 Americans on the program. Unemployment also shot from 8 million to 12 million, and as many of us know is still a major issue for many in our communities. Please contact Senators Lugar and Coats today and let them know that their constituents want to protect programs like SNAP for the 46 million Americans who rely on it to help keep food on the table.

Feeding America has made it easy to contact Senators Lugar and Coats. Just dial 1-877-698-8228 to be connected directly to both of our Senators.  The system allows you to connect toll-free to both Senators without hanging up the phone.

•     Dial 1-877-698-8228.  When prompted, enter your zip code and listen to the brief instructions.  You’ll then be patched through to your first Senator's office automatically.
•     Tell them that you are a constituent and state the name of the town you are calling from.
•     Let them know you are calling about the Farm Bill and deliver this message:

    As your constituent, I urge you to protect hunger-relief programs in the Farm Bill.  Specifically, I ask that take the following position on several amendments currently being considered:

•         Please vote YES on Gillibrand Amendment #2156 and Nelson Amendment #2243
•         Please vote NO on Boozman Amendment #2360, Sessions Amendment #2172, Sessions Amendment #2174, and Johnson (WI) Motion to Recommit

Below are some quick explanations of each of the amendments we are asking you to weigh in on.

Vote YES

•     Gillibrand Amendment #2156: Restores the $4.5 billion cut to SNAP made in the Senate Farm Bill; Clarifies USDA’s authority to make bonus TEFAP purchases in consideration of states’ needs in addition to agricultural market conditions; Invests an additional $500 million in the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Snack program for low-income children.
•     Nelson (NE) Amendment #2243: Clarifies how states can reinvest SNAP performance bonuses within SNAP.  

Vote NO

•     Boozman Amendment #2360:  Eliminates $48 million per year in incentive payments to states for improving SNAP performance and reinvests $43 million only in FY2013 in TEFAP for food banks.
•     Sessions Amendment #2172: Eliminates incentive payments to states for improving SNAP performance in payment accuracy rates and participation rates among eligible individuals.
•     Sessions Amendment #2174: Permits categorical eligibility for only households who receive TANF cash assistance, causing 2 to 3 million low-income people to lose benefits and 280,000 children to lose free school meals.
•     Johnson (WI) Motion to Recommit: Requires the Senate to move the Farm Bill as two separate bills, one that addresses SNAP/food stamps and one that deals with farm programs. Does not change the substance of the legislation and would unnecessarily slow the progress of achieving a 2012 Farm Bill.

CBS News has a good article that explains more about the bill and some of the individual amendments. To read it click here.