Catholic Charities calls for more food and nutrition assistance in Farm Bill

In session
November 7, 2007

Catholic Charities calls for more food and nutrition assistance in Farm Bill
Joining several senators and other community leaders today at a press conference on Capitol Hill, Catholic Charities USA urged Congress to strengthen the food and nutrition assistance programs in the 2007 Farm Bill. This week the U.S. Senate will be voting on the Food and Energy Security Act of 2007.

As part of its Campaign to Reduce Poverty in America, Catholic Charities USA is calling on Congress to give a higher priority to helping those living with hunger by strengthening current federal nutrition programs to help reduce hunger and poverty in the United States.

"More and more we see America's working families turning to our food pantries and soup kitchens. The nutrition title of the Farm Bill provides significant resources to those who are hungry in this land of plenty. Strengthening and expanding our federal nutrition programs are essential steps toward ensuring that no one will go with out food," said Rev. Clarence Williams, CPPS, of Catholic Charities USA.

Federal nutrition assistance programs-such as the Food Stamp Program, the Emergency Food Assistance Program, and the Commodity Supplemental Food Program-deliver essential food assistance to one in five Americans.

The Food Stamp program serves as the nation's primary safety net against hunger and is one the few programs that provide assistance to low-income people regardless of their age, health, or family status. The Commodity Supplemental Food Program and the Emergency Food Assistance Program are vital to assisting faith-based and nonprofit organizations meet the needs of the hungry in their communities.

For Catholic Charities USA, low-income individuals, families, children, and seniors need these programs to lead more productive lives. Congress can improve the Food Stamp Program in the upcoming Farm Bill by making the application process easier, increasing benefit amounts, improving outreach, expanding eligibility, and eliminating asset limits. Catholic Charities USA is also seeking adequate funding for the Emergency Food Assistance Program as well as adequate funding for states currently operating the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, while expanding the program to more states.

The other press conference participants included: Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA), Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Samuel Gidding, doctor of pediatric, preventative and fetal cardiology, and Katherine Tallmadge, registered dietitian.

Back to page top