Bread for the World Members Head to Capitol Hill to Advocate for Immigration and Food-Aid Reform

WASHINGTON, June 10, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Participants in Bread for the World's 2014 Lobby Day visited Capitol Hill today to advocate for policies that help hungry people. They urged Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform and reject harmful changes to U.S. food-aid programs. 

"Today we're advocating for two issues united by one mission—ending hunger," said Eric Mitchell, director of government relations at Bread for the World. "We are honored to have so many advocates joining us in this fight."

Immigration reform will reduce hunger among immigrants and their children by ensuring fairer wages and better working conditions. Bread for the World is also addressing the root causes of unauthorized migration. Congress must act now to provide a path to legalization and citizenship for undocumented immigrants.

Bread for the World also urges Congress to reject changes to food aid that hurt the hungry. An obscure provision before Congress would change the transportation requirements for U.S. food aid in a way that would make the process of getting food to vulnerable people more cumbersome and costly. As a result, 2 million people could go without lifesaving food aid.

"This year, we have a real chance of moving immigration reform and food-aid reform forward," said Rev. David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World. "We will have an impact!"

Lobby Day offers Bread for the World activists a unique opportunity to personally communicate with members of Congress and their staffers on hunger-related issues.

"If there is one thing I've been convinced of at Bread for the World, it's that your voice matters," said Amelia Kegan, deputy director of government relations for Bread for the World. "Advocacy is not speed dating; it's a long-term relationship."

Former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman spoke during this morning's briefing. "Members of Congress need to know there is a story behind these figures, facts, and numbers," he said.

Later this evening, Bread for the World will honor Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Reps. Spencer Bachus (R-Ala.), Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.), Ed Royce (R-Calif.) and Frank Wolf (R-Va.) for their continued leadership on issues impacting hungry and poor people in the United States and around the world. The day of advocacy officially concludes Bread for the World's 2014 National Gathering and 40th anniversary celebration in Washington, D.C. For more information, please visit www.bread.org/40.

Bread for the World (www.bread.org) is a collective Christian voice urging our nation's decision makers to end hunger at home and abroad.

SOURCE Bread for the World

WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM?

440k+
Newsrooms &
Influencers

9k+
Digital Media
Outlets

270k+
Journalists
Opted In

GET STARTED