USCCB urges Congress: protect anti-poverty programs

November 19, 2014

Two chairmen of committees of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops have urged members of Congress to “draw a ‘circle of protection’ around the many programs that serve poor and vulnerable people at home and abroad.”

“A just framework for spending and tax priorities cannot rely on disproportionate cuts in essential services to poor persons; it requires shared sacrifice by all, raising adequate revenues, addressing the long-term costs of health insurance and retirement programs fairly, and eliminating unnecessary spending when possible, including on the military, nuclear weapons, and agricultural subsidies,” said Archbishop Thomas Wenski, chairman of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, and Bishop Oscar Cantú, chairman of the Committee on International Justice and Peace.

In their November 17 letter, the two bishops praised the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit, called for greater funding for anti-poverty international assistance, and spoke out on behalf of over a dozen programs by name:

• the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC)
• the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)
• the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP)
• Housing for the Elderly (Section 202)
• Housing for People with Disabilities (Section 811)
• Housing for People with AIDS (HOPWA)
• Veterans Affairs Supported Housing (HUD-VASH)
• Tenant- and Project-based Rental Assistance
• Community Development Block Grant
• Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
• Food for Peace
• McGovern-Dole Food for Education
• Local and Regional Procurement
• Community Health Centers
• Head Start

 

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Further information:

• Archbishop Wenski, Bishop Cantu Urge Congress To Protect Programs That Help The Poor And Vulnerable (USCCB)
• Full text of letter (USCCB)