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Bread for the World Update 5/3/96
BREAD FOR THE WORLD. HOTLINE FOR MAY 2, 1996.
This is the Bread for the World's legislative update, issued
on May 2, 1996. We are urging action on domestic hunger programs
and on foreign aid.
Bread for the World members should write or call your members
of Congress and urge them to oppose block grants of nutrition
programs and funding cuts to sustainable development programs
overseas.
Hotline message on Domestic Hunger:
Senate Majority Leader Robert Dole (R-KA) continues to say he
wants to bring welfare reform to the Senate floor for a vote --
perhaps in June. House Republicans are waiting for Dole to decide
how to proceed on welfare reform before introducing a bill. A new
bill is expected to include an optional food stamps block grant and
cuts between $22 and $26 billion over seven years for food stamps
and another $3 billion in child nutrition cuts. A $26 billion cut
in food stamps would mean a loss of the equivalent of 20 billion
meals over seven years, according to a Food Research and Action
Center estimate.
A coalition of moderate Republicans and conservative Democrats
have introduced their welfare reform bill, HR 3266. The bill does
not offer states the option to choose a food stamps block grant,
but it cuts the program by $22 billion over seven years.
Full floor votes on welfare reform may happen in June.
Bread for the World members should continue to urge all
Senators and Representatives to oppose deep cuts and block grants
of nutrition programs and any bill that destroys the national
safety net for people living in poverty. It is also extremely
important that President Clinton hear opposition to proposals that
destroy the national social safety net.
Bread for the World's annual lobby day is scheduled for June
3, 1996. The date of this event was moved to coincide with the
June 1 national day of commitment for children, called Stand for
Children. This event is convened by the Children's Defense Fund
and endorsed by more than 1700 national, state, and local
organizations. For more information on Bread's lobby day, please
contact the organizing department at (301) 608-2400.
AFRICA: CRISIS TO OPPORTUNITY AND FOREIGN AID PROGRAMS
Congress is now beginning work on its budget resolution and
its spending bills for FY 97. The House will likely act on
foreign aid appropriations bill in early May and the Senate could
act in June. We expect that, like last year, there will be strong
pressure to reduce foreign aid spending and cuts will tend to fall
unfairly on long-term development aid to Africa and other poor
regions.
In its budget request for fiscal year 1997, the Clinton
Administration has asked that the Development Fund for Africa be
reinstated as a separate account and recommends a funding level of
$704 million, slightly higher than this year's level of $675
million. The request also urges the money for debt relief be
increased to $22 million, up from $10 million this year. Both
development aid and debt relief are essential to promoting
sustainable development in Africa.
Please call your Representatives and urge them
1) to support President Clinton's recommendation to reinstate
the Development Fund for Africa at a level of $704 million in the
FY 1997 foreign aid spending bill.
2) to support President Clinton's request for $22 million for
debt relief, and to direct this to the poorest countries in Africa;
and
3) to restore funding for development aid to the world's
poorest countries, which was cut by 25-40 percent for fiscal year
1996.
The House Foreign Operations Subcommittee will make
preliminary decisions the week of May 6. If your Representative
sits on this committee, your phone call will especially help.
Representatives include Republicans Callahan of Alabama, Bunn of
Oregon, Forbes of New York, Knollenberg of Michigan, Livingston of
Louisiana, Lightfoot of Iowa, Porter of Illinois, Packard of
California, and Democrats Wilson of Texas, Yates of Illinois, and
Pelosi and Torres of California.
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If Bread for the World is _new_ to you. . .
ABOUT BREAD FOR THE WORLD
Bread for the World is a Christian citizens'
movement of 44,000 members who work to end
hunger. For over 18 years BFW members have
sought to influence the nation's decision makers
to create policies which benefit poor and hungry
people in the U.S. and overseas.
BFW assists legislators in introducing and
passing legislation that addresses domestic and
international hunger. As individuals and through
organized networks in each congressional
district, BFW lobbies members of Congress through
direct visits, telephone calls, letters and
media. BFW researches, writes and publishes
materials on hunger-related topics. It assists
people in connecting faith, public policy and
legislative advocacy.
For information about BFW or to become a member,
please contact us at the following e-mail
addresses:
e-mail: bread@igc.org
If your message is to go to a specific person at
Bread for the World, please enter that
name in the "Subject field."
Or you may write to us: Bread for the World
1100 Wayne Avenue, Suite 1000,
Silver Spring, MD. 20919
Phone: (301) 608-2400
Fax: (301)608-2401
Legislative Update: (301)608-2400, select option 3 from the Menu
Rotary phones dial: (301) 588-7439