Agriculture Appropriations Bill Harmful to Hungry and Poor People

Bread for the World issued the following statement today about the agriculture appropriations bill H.R. 2112, which the House of Representatives passed June 16:

"We believe Congress should work hard on reducing our national debt, but not at the expense of poor mothers-to-be, young children, and the elderly here in the United States and around the world," said Rev. David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World. "The agriculture appropriations spending bill passed by the House last week is the Paul Ryan budget proposal in action. The total bill cut nearly $3 billion in agriculture spending and made cuts to both domestic and international nutrition programs.

While we are thankful the cuts were not deeper, we are asking people to join us to form a circle of protection around programs that serve the world's poorest people."

Below is a summary of cuts included in the bill:

Domestic

* The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) was funded at $6.05 billion, a 10 percent cut from FY 2011 funding levels.

* The Commodity Supplemental Food Program was funded at $139 million, a 12 percent cut from FY 2011 funding levels.

* Hunger Free Communities was not funded.

International

* Food for Peace (P.L. 480) was funded at $1.04 billion, a 31 percent cut from FY 2011 funding.

* McGovern-Dole was funded at $180 million, a 10 percent cut from FY 2011 funding.

Bread for the World is working with evangelical, Roman Catholic, mainline Protestant, African-American, and Latino Christian leaders to form a circle of protection around FY 2012 funding for programs that help hungry and poor people in the United States and abroad.