Women, Children, Families

Reflection:   “The way society responds to the needs of the poor through its public policies is the litmus test of its justice or injustice.”                                                                                                                                                               US Catholic Bishops, Economic Justice for All, #123 "All economic life should be shaped by moral principles.  Economic choices and institutions must be judged by how they protect or          undermine the life and dignity of the human person, support the family, and serve the common good."                                                                      (A Catholic Framework for Economic Life, U.S. Catholic Bishops) Human Dignity is respected and the common good is fostered only if human rights are protected and basic responsibilities are met.                 Every human being has a right to life, the fundamental right that makes all other rights possible, and a right to access to those things              required for human decency-food and shelter, education and employment, health care and housing, freedom of religion and family life."            -U.S.   ---Catholic Bishops, "Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility," 2007 #49                                                                                             Action Alert Child Nutrition Reauthorization House Bill 5504 with NO cuts to SNAP September 7, 2010    Action Needed: Call! Message to House Members and Leadership, and the White House: Pass H.R. 5504, House Child Nutrition Reauthorization Bill This Year Without Cutting SNAP Benefits.   Background:  The August FMAP/jobs bill reduced SNAP benefits by $11.9 billion.  The bill ends the Economic Recovery Act's (ARRA) SNAP monthly benefits increase in April 2014 rather than (as currently projected) in 2018. On top of the SNAP cut in the FMAP bill, the Senate also passed its version of Child Nutrition Reauthorization (S. 3307), which further reduces SNAP benefits, to generate $2.2 billion to pay for this bill. It does this by moving the SNAP benefits increase termination date forward to November 2013. Funding any program priorities - no matter how meritorious - by cutting SNAP benefits is unacceptable. The House Child Nutrition bill, H.R. 5504, must pass without using SNAP benefits as a "pay for."  H.R. 5504 provides critical support for low-income children by improving their access to the nutritious food they need - whether in school, in out-of-school time programs, or in child care - while also improving the nutritional quality of those meals.  Passing H.R. 5504 this year will ensure significant movement towards the goals of ending child hunger by 2015 and dramatically reducing childhood obesity.  While passage of this bill is a top priority for the anti-hunger community, it is unacceptable to finance the bill through cuts to SNAP benefits.   Call your House Member and the White House.  The number at the White House switchboard is 202-456-1414.  Urge your Representative and President Obama to pass H.R. 5504 without cutting SNAP benefits. Connecticut House Member Contact Information: District # 1-U.S. Congressman John Larson Phone: (860) 278-8888       (202)225-2265   www.larson.house.gov             District  # 2-Congressman Joe Courtney Phone: (860) 886-0139  (202)2253076          www.courtney.house.gov                  District # 3- Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro Phone: (203) 562-3718   (202)225-3661      www.deLauro.house.gov            District # 4- Congressman Jim Himes Phone:(866) 453-0028      (202)225-5541      www.himes.house.gov District #5-Congressman Chris Murphy Phone: (860) 223-8412     (202)225-4476      www.chrismurphy.house.gov To find your Representative : www.house.gov                                                                                                                                              Please share this Action Alert with your Circle of Influence and Friends Collaborative Center for Justice Celebrating Ten Years of Social Justice Advocacy “Not just advocating for change, but activating change”                           Be a persistent prophetic voice for Justice .