This week, the House will vote on a Farm Bill proposal that will cut $40 billion from SNAP. The cut would translate into about 1.5 billion lost meals for hungry families every year for the next 10 years. This is on top of the looming benefit reductions that will impact all SNAP participants starting in November 2013.
The combined cuts would lead to more lost meals than the entire Feeding America network distributes in a year. Increasing hunger in America is not the way to balance our nation’s budget.
We must send a strong message to Congress. Join our National Call in Day and help us flood the phone lines by urging your Representative to oppose the bill and mobilizing your local supporters to do the same!
Calling Congress is easy. Here’s how:
Call our advocacy hotline at 866-456-8824
Listen to the pre-recorded message and enter your zip code when prompted. Once you are connected to your Representative, state that you are a constituent and give your name and the town you are calling from. Be sure to give the name of the food bank or local agency you are affiliated with.
Let them know you are calling about the Farm Bill and deliver this important message:
“As your constituent and supporter of the Missouri Food Bank Association, I am asking you to vote against the House Farm Bill proposal to cut $40 billion from SNAP. This bill will be devastating to struggling Americans, and our food bank cannot fill the gap. While we support the increased funding for TEFAP, the TEFAP investments will not offset the lost meals due to the cuts to SNAP. I understand the need to reduce the deficit, but increasing hunger is not the way to do it. Please oppose this bill and support additional funding for TEFAP as the Farm Bill moves forward.”
Recruit others by spreading the word through your social media channels.