Washington, D.C., March 8, 2024 – Bread for the World released the following statement on passage of the first fiscal year 2024 minibus package. The legislation provides funding for key nutrition programs including the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and the international nutrition program Food for Peace.
“Bread for the World celebrates the bipartisan passage of this legislation and sees it as a significant victory for the thousands of Bread supporters who wrote emails and letters, made phone calls, and met with their members of Congress in support of domestic and international nutrition programs,” said Rev. Eugene Cho, president and CEO of Bread for the World.
The legislation fully funds vital domestic child nutrition programs including WIC, the National School Lunch Program, the School Breakfast Program, and Summer EBT. These programs play a critical role in ensuring our nation’s children receive the nutrition they need to lead healthy and productive lives. The legislation also fully funds SNAP, our nation’s most important program addressing hunger.
In addition, the legislation provides funding for the international nutrition programs Food for Peace and the McGovern-Dole Food for Education Program. These initiatives are the pillars of our efforts to address hunger and malnutrition globally. While funding for both programs decreased slightly from 2023 levels, the legislation did not include the 70 percent cuts that had been proposed last year.
“Bread thanks leadership in both the House and the Senate for prioritizing nutrition in this minibus and looks forward to continuing our collaboration with policymakers and stakeholders to build a more food-secure world,” added Cho.
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