CRS calls for support for food aid funding

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February 2006

Bishops urges House to reject budget agreement
CRS calls for support for food aid funding
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CRS calls for support for food aid funding
A legislative action alert from Catholic Relief Services:
Urge the President, your Members of Congress to Support Strong Food Aid Funding

WHY THIS ISSUE IS IMPORTANT: Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and our partners estimate that more than 30 million people affected by global emergencies such as last year's devastating earthquake in Pakistan and ongoing food shortages in southern and eastern Africa are in need of immediate food aid today.

At the same time, the U.S. government provided only $1.15 billion of the anticipated $2 billion the U.S. would normally contribute this fiscal year to the global response to emergency and long-term development food needs of poor and vulnerable people worldwide. U.S. food aid intended for long-term development programs such as addressing the nutritional needs of people affected by HIV/AIDS or increasing agricultural production in poor regions is being diverted to address emergencies. With barely half of the food aid funding needed available, CRS is facing major cuts in its ongoing development programs.

Your urgent action is needed today! Please contact the President and your members of Congress and urge them to increase the FY 2006 food aid levels to $2 billion as part of an expected emergency supplemental appropriations bill and to ensure that FY 2007 appropriations for food aid are $2 billion. Click here and enter your zip code in the Take Action box to send them a message today.

BACKGROUND: As Catholics, our Church's social teaching is rooted in the fundamental dignity of every human life. The U.S. Catholic Bishops have stated that the right to food is a basic right because it is required to sustain life and to live a truly human existence. Therefore, we are called to ensure that we do everything we can to meet the basic needs of our brothers and sisters around the world, including the need for food. Meanwhile, the United Nations estimates that 6 million people will die of hunger-related causes this year. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that 852 million people globally live on less than 2,100 calories per day.

In anticipation of an emergency supplemental appropriations bill for FY 2006 and the announcement of President Bush's FY 2007 budget request and subsequent appropriations process in Congress, CRS and our partners are calling for an additional $885 million in U.S. food aid funding for FY 2006 as well as a total of $2 billion for food aid in addition to a robust account for local food purchases for FY 2007.

TAKE ACTION NOW! Please contact the President and your members of Congress today! Urge them to provide $885 million for food aid in the emergency supplemental appropriations bill and $2 billion for food aid in FY 2007. Please click here and enter your zip code in the Take Action box to send a message today.

OTHER WAYS YOU CAN HELP:

* Share this action alert with your family, friends, and fellow parishioners.

* Encourage others to sign up for CRS' legislative network www.crs.org/legislativenetwork.cfm.

* Learn, discuss, and pray about global issues that affect the poor and how our advocacy efforts can make a difference. Visit our website www.crs.org/grassroots.cfm for educational, action, and prayer resources.

For further information contact: Tina Rodousakis, Legislative Network, 1-800-235-2772 x 7462; trodousa@crs.org.

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