Don’t trim the deficit by taking food off the table!

TELL PRESIDENT OBAMA & YOUR CONGRESS MEMBERS:

Don't balance the budget on the backs of America's poor and hungry!

As talks between the White House and Congressional leaders come to a close — Congress may vote on a deficit-reduction measure as early as this Saturday. Broad budget reduction measures that would impact The Emergency Food Assistance (TEFAP) and Food Stamp (SNAP) Programs have been discussed. TEFAP and SNAP are the foundation on which publicly and privately funded efforts to address food poverty are built. TEFAP is the single largest source of emergency food in New York City, comprising approximately half of the food distributed by the Food Bank in recent years. ACT NOW: Protect Emergency Food & Food Stamps!

The White House and Congressional leaders are engaged in a historic session of budget and deficit negotiations that could reshape the federal budget. Congress will be voting on a plan as early as this weekend.  With 3 million New Yorkers struggling to afford food, the safety net programs that our vulnerable neighbors rely on must be protected.

Tell President Obama and Congress: don't trim the deficit by taking food off the table!

The current talks could prove devastating to low-income families and individuals if across-the-board cuts, caps or other measures are applied to the federal emergency food program (TEFAP), food stamps (SNAP) and other nutrition assistance programs. These arbitrary changes will eliminate the ability of programs like SNAP to respond to changes in need as economic conditions dictate — that is, to serve more people when need is greater, and to shrink when circumstances improve.

The recession has driven both food stamp enrollment and the need for emergency food to an all-time high, with 1.4 million New York City residents relying on food pantries and/or soup kitchens, and 1.8 million New York City residents participating in SNAP. TEFAP is the single largest source of emergency food in New York City, comprising approximately half of the food distributed by the Food Bank For New York City in recent years. The food it provides, including fruit, vegetables, whole-grain products, low-fat dairy and lean meat, poultry and fish, is among the healthiest available to emergency food participants, as the majority of TEFAP food meets the recommendations set forth in the federal Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

The House of Representatives, which has already taken action on the federal budget, passed an Agriculture Appropriations bill that would put TEFAP on track to provide 10 million fewer meals for New Yorkers in need over the next year. The current negotiations will influence the Senate's version of the budget, which is the next step in the process. Once the Senate's budget is introduced, the two Houses of Congress will then have to work to reach a compromise for a final federal budget agreement.

Congress is scheduling votes as early as Saturday, July 23rd on a deficit reduction agreement. Help send the message that any negotiated plan must work to reduce food poverty, even as it attempts to shrink the deficit.

Tell President Obama and Congress: don't trim the deficit by taking food off the table!

For more info about "URGENT ACTION: Protect Emergency Food & Food Stamps!" click on the link below:
https://secure3.convio.net/fbnyc/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=170&autologin=true

Subject: D.C. Budget Fight: Protect Hunger Relief!

The House is scheduled to vote on a bill in mid-June that would significantly cut emergency food and food stamp funding. These cuts will be particularly devastating as the federal emergency food program (TEFAP) is already on track to provide 7 million fewer meals in NYC than last year. Please take a moment to learn more about this important issue.

To take action on this issue, click on the link below:
http://help.foodbanknyc.org/site/Advocacy?s_oo=MNA5MzChwTEV8Bf_DPsyPA..&id=161

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