Real Cuts, Real Consequences: Congressional Champions, National Organizations, and Advocates Respond to Farm Bill Snap Cuts on Capitol Hill

WASHINGTON, July 6, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following release is being issued by Feeding America and Food Research and Action Center:

WHO: Members of Congress:

• Representative Joe Baca (D-CA-43)
• Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-3)
• Representative Marcia Fudge (D-OH-11)
• Representative Jim McGovern (D-MA-03)
• Representative Gwen Moore (D-WI-4)

• Eric Olsen, Senior Vice President for Public Policy, Feeding America
• Jim Weill, President, Food Research and Action Center
• Gary Cook, Director of Church Relations, Bread for the World
• Matthew Biggs, Legislative-Political Director, International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers
• Howard Bedlin, Vice President of Public Policy and Advocacy, National Council on Aging
• Seth Bixby Daugherty, Chef Instructor, The Art Institutes International Minnesota; Chef and Founder, Real Food Initiatives, Minneapolis, MN
• others to be confirmed

WHAT: Congressional members are gathering with Feeding America, the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC), advocates, and representatives from dozens of national organizations in opposition to cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that are included in the House Agriculture Committee Farm Bill proposal. Congressional champions and leaders from anti-hunger, faith, children, seniors, public health, unions, retailers, chefs, and other stakeholder groups will discuss the consequences of these cuts on low-income households.

WHEN: Tuesday, July 10, 2012, 9:30 a.m.

WHERE: House Triangle, House side of the East Front of the Capitol, Washington, D.C.

WHY: The House Agriculture Committee released its Farm Bill mark on Thursday, proposing a staggering $16.1 billion in cuts to the nutrition title taken from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the nation's first line of defense against hunger.  These proposed cuts would cause: two to three million individuals to lose their food assistance entirely; 500,000 households to see their benefits cut by $90 per month; and nearly 300,000 children to lose free school meals. The committee will mark up the bill tomorrow, and Congressional champions are gathering with dozens of advocates and national stakeholder organizations to protest the proposed cuts and to discuss the impact of the cuts on low-income households.

CONTACT: Lucio Guerrero 
312.629.7219
[email protected] 

Jen Adach
202-986-2200 x3018
[email protected]

SOURCE Feeding America