Washington Update: Week of April 10
- Congress left for a two-week spring recess last week without completing the fiscal year 2017 appropriations or introducing a fiscal year 2018 budget.
- They have until April 28 to pass a continuing resolution or a large omnibus spending bill to keep the government from shutting down.
- We continue to urge Congress to pass a spending bill for the remainder of fiscal year 2017 that funds anti-hunger programs and includes $1 billion in additional funding for famine relief.
American Health Care Act
- On April 5, Congress and the Trump administration tried to revitalize the American Health Care Act in the hopes that they could move the bill through the House before recess. They were not able to accomplish this lofty goal, because they are still divided on the policy issues.
- We are watching this process very closely and if a bill that cuts Medicaid begins to move again we will initiate our network.
Act Now!
Congress is home for the Passover and Easter holidays. When they return on April 24, they will be making several budget decisions that will impact hungry and poor people in the U.S. and around the world.
Call (800-826-3688) and urge your senators and representative to make budget decisions that put us on track to end hunger by 2030. This includes protecting international development programs and low-income programs in the U.S., as well as providing additional funding for famine relief.
You can subscribe to the content of Washington Update, delivered to you as an email, in a newsletter called Fresh Bread.
Tools
from our Resource Library
For Education
Climate, Racial Equity, and Hunger Series: Latino/a Communities
Climate Change Worsens Hunger in Latino/a Communities
Climate, Racial Equity, and Hunger Series: Indigenous Communities
Climate change threatens the traditions and lifestyles of Indigenous people.
Climate, Racial Equity, and Hunger Series: African American Communities
While climate change impacts everyone, regardless of race, policies and practices around climate have historically discriminated against and excluded people of color.
For Faith
Finding Hope, Ending Hunger on Both Sides of the Border: A Bilingual Latino Devotional
Devotional writers challenge us to feel the Spirit of God within us and to hear God’s urgent call to demand justice so all can put food on the table.The Bible on Health as a Hunger Issue
“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him and established in faith.” These words from Colossians 2:6 remind us of the faith that is active in love for our neighbors.
The Bible on...
Faith Leaders' Unity Declaration on Racism and Poverty
A diverse body of Christian leaders calls on the churches and Congress to focus on the integral connection.
For Advocacy
Fact Sheet: Coronavirus (COVID-19) and SNAP
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is designed to respond to changes in need, making it well suited to respond to crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fact Sheet: Why We Need $200 Million for Global Nutrition Programs
Bread for the World and its partners are asking Congress to provide $200 million for global nutrition.
Fact Sheet: Hunger by the Numbers
In 2017, 11.8 percent of households in the U.S.—40 million people—were food-insecure, meaning that they were unsure at some point during the year about how they would provide for their next meal.