USCCB, other Catholic organizations urge House to reject proposed cuts to food stamps
June 19, 2013
The chairmen of two committees of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) have joined the leaders of Catholic Charities USA, Catholic Relief Services, and the National Catholic Rural Life Conference in urging the House of Representatives to reject proposed cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), popularly known as food stamps.
Nearly 47 million Americans receive SNAP benefits. The Senate has approved legislation cutting SNAP benefits by $4 billion over the next ten years; a House committee has passed a bill calling for $20 billion in cuts over the same time period.
“The fact that food is a basic need and a fundamental human right makes food production unique in meeting this essential human need,” said Bishop Stephen Blaire of Stockton, chairman of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), and Bishop Richard Pates of Des Moines, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on International Justice and Peace. “The bill reported by the Committee includes over $20 billion in cuts to SNAP. These cuts should be rejected.”
The bishops and other Catholic leaders also discussed international food security and development, conservation, rural development, and subsidies in their June 17 letter to the House of Representatives, just as they did a May 9 letter to the leadership of the US Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
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Further information:
- Catholic Leaders Urge House To Support Farm Bill That Provides For Poor And Hungry, Promotes Fairness And Stewardship (USCCB)
- Full text of letter (USCCB)
- USCCB, other Catholic organizations weigh in on farm bill, call for reduction in subsidies (CWN, 5/13)
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Posted by: unum -
Jun. 20, 2013 9:58 AM ET USA
Our bishops have got to be kidding! Their statement assumes: 1) The country is not broke and can afford to feed the world with borrowed funds (that must be repaid by our children and grandchildren); 2) There is no waste and fraud to cut from the food stamp program or the other federal programs they mention; and 3) That the mission of Christ's Church is to oversee government social programs instead of actually helping the poor! A sad commentary on their leadership of Christ's Church!
