U.S. Bishops Urge Priority For Poor Families In National Response To Economic Stress
In a letter dated January 23, Bishop William Murphy, chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, called on government leaders to find effective ways to protect the poorest families and low wage workers from financial hardship during this economic downturn.
The letter also expressed support for strengthening existing programs such as unemployment compensation, food stamp benefits, and the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) as effective means to assist families and help the economy.
In a time in which a growing number of Americans are facing increasing financial hardship due to a slowing economy, rising unemployment and an inability to meet mortgage obligations and consumer bills, the bishops reminded leaders of the moral obligations we all share to care for the neediest among us.
A good society, Bishop Murphy wrote, is measured by the extent to which those with responsibility attend to the needs of the weaker members, especially those most in need. Economic polices that help lower-income working families live in decency and with dignity should be a clear and common priority.
He concluded by reminding the nations leaders that the poor working people and their families will be disproportionately hurt by this declining economy.
The Human Family: A Community of Peace
Action Alert: Farm Bill Priorities
Call Your Senators Today
Ask
Them to Support Amendments that Feed the Hungry and
Target Farm Supports to Those Who Need It
Most
The Senate will be voting on
The Food and Energy
Security Act (HR 2419), the version of the Farm
Bill approved by its Senate Agriculture Committee
last week. We urgently need your help in supporting
critical funding for Food Stamps and emergency food
assistance; reforms in commodity supports to help
smaller and moderate scale farmers; as well as
support for conservation programs that benefit all
rural communities.
Immediate Action
Required:
Call Senator Byron Dorgan and
Senator Conrad (click for contact information.)
Urge our Senators to:
Vote YES on
amendments that provide additional funding for
Food Stamps and for emergency food assistance
(TEFAP). The
Senate Agriculture Committee-approved bill
contains $1 billion less in new investments for
the Food Stamp Program and The Emergency Food
Assistance Program (TEFAP) than the House-passed
bill (H.R. 2419).
Vote YES on
the Dorgan-Grassley amendment, which ensures
support for U.S. farmers who need it most.
Today 66 percent of
commodity payment programs go to 10 percent of our
nation’s farmers, the biggest and most
affluent. Urge the Senate to pass a fair commodity
title that better targets payments to those who
need them while closing loopholes that have
permitted the powerful to collect multiple
payments. The status quo, which directs the
majority of payments to large and wealthy
agribusinesses while leaving behind the majority
of farm families, is
unacceptable.
Vote YES on
amendments that reduce trade-distorting
subsidies. Our brothers and sisters who
till the land in developing countries, where
three-quarters of the population rely on
small-scale farming for their livelihood, are
struggling to survive in an increasingly global
market that stymies their efforts to feed their
families and work their way out of
poverty.
Support the
Food Aid provisions of the bill.
Support the
committee bill which provides for a
“safebox” with no waivers, and sets
aside $600 million of PL 480 Title II resources
for development programs. We must protect
Title II resources that address chronic hunger, in
order to mitigate future emergencies and to help
the poorest reach long term food security. Oppose
attempts to weaken Committee-passed provisions on
Food Aid.
Background:
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops,
National Catholic Rural Life Conference, Catholic
Charities USA and Catholic Relief Services have been
working together to seek a new kind of Farm Bill that
reflects a commitment to feed the hungry at home and
abroad, to offer effective support for those who till
the land, while promoting fairness and equity for
farmers and ranchers. We especially support efforts
to target agriculture resources to those who need
help the most rather than those who need it
least.
The 2007 Farm Bill was approved by
the U.S. House of Representatives (HR 2419) this
summer. The Senate expects to begin voting on its
version of the Farm Bill the week of November 5. The
bill approved by the Senate Agriculture Committee
makes important investments in conservation and
includes key provisions for beginning farmers and
socially disadvantaged farmers. However, more needs
to be done to address the inequities in farm
supports, especially programs that are trade
distorting and that harm farmers in developing
countries. While ensuring a genuine farm safety net,
savings from greater fairness improvements need to be
used for nutrition assistance to low-income people,
conservation and rural
development.
We will continue to work for
fairness and justice in our food and farm policies as
the Farm bill moves to conference committee for final
passage, possibly before
Thanksgiving.
The U.S.
Bishops have stated that "the primary goals of
agricultural policies should be providing food for
all people and reducing poverty among farmers and
farmworkers in this country and abroad." (For I Was
Hungry and You Gave Me Food: Catholic Reflections on
Food, Farmers and Farmworkers). See letters on
USCCB’s 2007 Farm Bill priorities at:
http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/national/agric.shtml.
Click here for a pdf copy of the Action
Alert.
Amendment Offered to Exclude Catholic Church from Housing Program
The House is debating H.R. 1427, the Federal Housing Reform Act of 2007, with a final vote coming as early as Tuesday, May 22. While the USCCB has no position on H.R. 1427, which establishes new regulations for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Home Loan Banks, there are two issues the USCCB is following:
(1) HR 1427 includes a provision reserving some $500,000,000 a year as a dedicated source of funding for an affordable housing trust fund. The Catholic bishops have long supported the creation of a national housing trust fund as one way to meet our nation’s promise of a decent home for every American family.
A National Housing Trust Fund would serve as a source of revenue for the production of new housing, and the preservation or rehabilitation of existing housing that is affordable for low income people.
The lack of affordable housing in our nation threatens the well-being of families and the economic life of our communities. The lack of housing in our communities affects economic development—businesses simply will not locate in communities where their workers cannot live.
(2) An amendment has been offered (Mr. Hensarling AMENDMENT NO. 28) that would have the effect of excluding the Catholic Church and other religious organizations from using the housing trust funds to help low-income families gain the housing they desperately need.
A similar amendment was offered to a version of this bill in the last Congress. On October 3, 2005, Bishop DiMarzio wrote to then Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert urging the rejection of proposals to restrict eligibility for the affordable housing funds, which would have excluded most Catholic agencies.
“Proposals that would limit eligible recipients to organizations that have as their primary purpose the provision of affordable housing would effectively prevent Catholic dioceses, parishes and Catholic Charities agencies from participating in Affordable Housing Fund programs. Similarly, proposals that would prohibit recipients from engaging in voter registration and lobbying activities with their own funds during the period they are utilizing affordable housing funds would force Catholic agencies to choose between participating in Affordable Housing Fund programs or engaging in constitutionally protected voter registration and lobbying activities with their own funds.
“I urge you to oppose inclusion of these kinds of unnecessary limitations and prohibitions … as [the bill] moves to the House floor for a vote. There are ample ways to write safeguards into the legislation to prevent the diversion of affordable housing funds to uses other than what they are intended without requiring recipients to forego their constitutionally protected rights as a condition for participating in Affordable Housing Fund programs.” (Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio letter on Affordable Housing Fund, October 3, 2005)
The USCCB urges a vote against these types of Amendments.
ACTION REQUESTED:
- Call Your Representative(s) and urge them to support the inclusion of the Affordable Housing Fund in H.R. 1427.
- Ask them to oppose the Hensarling Amendment #28 whose effect would exclude the Catholic Community from using these funds to help house low income families.
- Please use this toll free number, 877-210-5351, for the congressional switchboard and ask to be connected to your Representative’s office.
Minimum Wage Proposals - One Passed, One Rejected, Two Pending
The Associated Press has a summary of the bills and their status here.
Minimum Wage Bills in Senate Committee
Minimum Wage
Meanwhile, the U.S. Senate plans to begin debate next week on raising the federal minimum wage. To help, check out this action alert from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Go here to learn more about what Catholic social teaching has to say about a minumum wage.