Urgent Request

Hey Everyone,
I don’t think I have ever made a request like this, but I need you to stop what you’re doing right now and do three things.

1. Pray

2. Call

3. Share

Tomorrow congress is voting on a bill (H.R. 3102) that would cut nearly $40 billion from the USA’s supplemental nutrition assistance program, known as SNAP. Here are a few points to consider:

• Across the country, 2 to 4 million adults without dependents would lose benefits. SNAP already has strict work requirements but this proposal would require individuals to find work at times when jobs are scarce.

• Nearly 2 million more people, primarily seniors and those in low-income working families, would lose benefits due to changes in eligibility rules.

• In 2011, private churches and charities provided approximately $4 billion in food assistance, compared to $98 billion provided by federal nutrition programs. Churches and charities would have to nearly double their current food assistance to make up the difference.

These cuts are horrific. They have been condemned by religious leaders from across churches and traditions. Here a few snit-bits from some of the hundreds of faith communities that have stood up and decried these cuts as immoral.

The US Catholic Bishops call it a threat to human life and dignity
The Nuns (LCWR) are calling out for a vote against this bill saying “We should not punish people who are doing all they can to find a job and earn a living in this weak economy.”
The National Association of Evangelicals calls for a balanced budget, but condemns this bill saying it fiscal responsibility must “be done without further burdening our most vulnerable citizens, and without cutting appropriations for vital food assistance programs”
The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism calls these cuts “damaging” and states, “our sages explain that feeding the hungry is one of our most important responsibilities on earth: “When you are asked in the world to come, ‘What was your work?’ and you answer: ‘I fed the hungry,’ you will be told: ‘This is the gate of the Lord, enter into it, you who have fed the hungry’” (Midrash to Psalm 118:17). SNAP helps feed those who are hungry, which should be a priority for people of all faiths and no faith.”
The American Baptist Churches have stated “There are many invitations in the Bible to care for our neighbor and remember those in need—especially women, children and those with limitations. The cuts included in the bill violate this principle.”
The Episcopal church states, “Rather than removing structures that support struggling families, we should work to protect the weak, the vulnerable, and the needy”
the Society of Saint Vincent De Paul condemns them and adds, “We provide assistance because we are inspired by our faith to do so. More important, we will continue to fulfill our mission, but we cannot replace the role that the federal government plays in providing for the common good.”

Will you stand up too?

1. Pray

Take a moment to pray. This is an urgent issue that we have less then a day to address. There are literally millions of Americans who will be influenced by these cuts if they pass and we have only hours to see something change. Pray that God would work in the hearts of policy makers and help them to realize that the budget should not be balanced on the backs of the poor.

2. Call
I have posted a the names and numbers of representatives who I think can be persuaded to vote “no.” If you live in their district, or know someone in their district call them! I have also listed their Agricultural Staff person. This is a good person to talk to since they would be responsible for keeping abreast of this legislation. Tell them to “VOTE NO” on the bill. The list is here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?key=0AtCiGtB8mNKVdGZ4OTQzYWtFVkJaTTFER2s3MzlsZGc&single;=true&gid;=0&output;=html

3. Share

Share this call to action with your friends. Please re-post, re-tweet, re-blog, and send this to everyone you know. Like I said before we only have hours to get this information out!