A Crucial Moment

Over the next roughly two weeks, Congress is considering budget proposals with drastic cuts and new barriers in programs that serve vulnerable neighbors and protect God's creation including:

• SNAP,

• Medicaid,

• Clean energy programs,

and many other supports for neighbors at home and abroad. Lawmakers are putting vital programs at risk to pay for massive tax cuts. Congress is deciding on these budget proposals right now.

Make a Difference: Share Community Impact Stories

As constituents and faith leaders who witness the daily impacts of these programs in our communities, your voices matter to the lawmakers making these decisions.

Click this Google Form link to share quotes, stories, and images from your ministries and/or congregations. Help policymakers see how SNAP, Medicaid, and clean energy programs make a difference in the lives of your neighbors and communities.

Your Stories Will Be Delivered to Congress

ELCA Witness in Society staff in Washington, DC will collect all the faith leader testimonials we receive and share them with lawmakers’ offices directly over the next week, ahead of anticipated committee votes. We will then follow your stories up by meeting with these offices to emphasize the importance of these issues to ELCA members. Your voice reminds lawmakers that budgets are moral documents.

PASSIONATE AND WANT TO GO DEEPER?

If you want to do as much as you can, consider these additional action steps:

1. Write to Your Local Newspaper: Consider submitting a Letter to the Editor (LTE) in your local paper or news outlet expressing concerns about these potential cuts. This LTE Guide provides templates and instructions to make it easy and effective. To engage more with media check out The Food Research and Action Center’s (FRAC) HandsOffSNAP media guide.

2. Attend a Rally: For advocates within reasonable distance, consider joining the SNAP Matters Rally in Washington, D.C. with advocates and several Members of Congress. This rally to oppose reductions to essential hunger funding will be hosted by the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) and takes place on Tuesday, May 6, at 8:30 a.m. at the Upper Senate Park. For those far from D.C., search on the internet to see if a local group is hosting a rally you could attend.

3. Inform Yourself: Read the additional information below and do your own research on these issues. Understanding the specifics makes you a more effective advocate for your neighbors and for preservation of creation.

Additional Information on the Federal Budget

Congressional committees are scheduled to begin markups–i.e. debating, amending, and rewriting proposed legislation ahead of Congressional votes–the week of May 5th, with a possible House floor vote as soon as the week of May 19th. While specific details remain limited, several proposals are being discussed including reductions to:

• SNAP Hunger Assistance: Many proposals being discussed would dramatically reduce current and/or future food assistance for many families including:

  • requiring beneficiaries to submit paperwork multiple times per year,

  • adding additional work requirements for older individuals, parents of young children, and/or the disabled and,

  • not tying nutrition funding increases to scientific guidance on healthy diets.

• Medicaid Funding: Proposals to increase state cost-sharing requirements, reduce expanded Medicaid, or potentially limit healthcare access on certain demographics. (Read more here).

• Environmental Programs: Possible elimination of clean energy incentives and reductions to conservation initiatives.

Anticipate future calls to action, alerts, and useful information as these proposals advance with Congress and policy details are confirmed.

This budget reconciliation process will move quickly. Your prophetic witness on behalf of your communities can help ensure the moral dimensions of these policy decisions are not overlooked.