Call to Protect Programs in the Deficit Reduction Talks Today!

July 6, 2011

Prevent Cuts to the Nutrition Programs and Programs for At-Risk, Low-Income, and Poor People in Need!

Washington, DC, 6 July 2011 – The White House and congressional leaders are in final negotiations to raise the debt ceiling.

Congress must raise the debt ceiling so that the U.S. government can pay its current obligations. To secure votes to raise the debt ceiling, some members of Congress are withholding support unless dramatic cuts are made to federal spending—including destructive, long-term cuts to the nutrition, hunger, and other programs for people in need.

Every deficit-reduction package of the last 30 years has been bi-partisan, exempting key programs for at-risk, low-income, poor people from cuts. We must protect these programs.

Final negotiations between the President and key leaders in Congress are happening right now. Call your senators today and tomorrow and ask them to urge Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to create a circle of protection around funding for the nutrition programs and programs for at-risk, low-income, and poor people in the United States and the desperately poor abroad in any legislation to raise the debt ceiling. Do not put off your call! Make your voice heard!

You can explain your message by adding any or all of these points:

  • Exempt programs for hungry and poor people from cuts. All major deficit-reduction packages in the past 30 years under Republican and Democratic leaders have exempted key domestic programs that affect hungry and poor people. Congress must continue this precedent by protecting low-income programs here in the United States and abroad.
  • Revenues and spending cuts must be on the table to achieve deficit reduction so we can continue our commitment to ending hunger and poverty at home and abroad.
  • Funding these programs is good for the economy. Low-income families spend their benefits immediately and in their local communities, leading to local job creation and job sustainability.

Your Senators need to hear from you today and by Friday 1 July at the latest! Call your U.S. senators on 202.224.3121 and tell them to urge Sens. Reid and McConnell to protect the nutrition, hunger and other programs for at-risk, low-income, and poor people in the debt ceiling negotiations or email them through our Take Action link.

Call President Obama on 202.456.1111 to encourage protection of the nutrition, hunger and other programs for at-risk, low-income, and poor people in the debt ceiling negotiations or email him through our Take Action link..

See Downloads to the right of this page for a PDF of the letter sent to Congress and the White House calling for a circle of protection for nutrition, hunger, and programs for at-risk, low-income, and poor people in need.