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A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release
Contact:

Racine Tucker-Hamilton
202-464-8196

New Bill Takes Away Food Benefits for the Poor to Pay for Health Costs for the Poor

WASHINGTON

Bread for the World is disappointed that the U.S. Congress did
not find alternate funding to pay for the $26 billion state aid bill
passed Tuesday. The funds will be used by states to pay for critical
items such as Medicaid reimbursements and salaries for teachers,
firefighters, and police officers. Unfortunately, the bill was paid for by reducing future funds for the
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP-formerly called food
stamps).

"It is a good bill and the funds are critically needed by the
states, but by using SNAP funds, Congress has taken away twice the
amount of food that will be provided by all of the food charities in the
upcoming year," said Rev. David Beckmann, president of Bread for the
World. "Taking money from poor, hungry people to help poor, sick people
is not the solution. Congress should have found the money elsewhere in
the budget."

Bread for the World is a collective Christian voice urging our nation's decision makers to end hunger at home and abroad. By changing policies, programs and conditions that allow hunger and poverty to persist, we provide help and opportunity far beyond the communities in which we live.