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Groups Want More Funding for Hunger Fight
CHICAGO, IL (August 1, 2005) - Leaders of anti-hunger groups gathered here
Thursday to discuss national poll results showing 92 percent of likely
voters want Congress to continue programs that combat hunger.
Those programs include school nutrition programs, food stamps and the
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children
(WIC) program.
Despite public attitudes, people often do not realize the seriousness of
the problem when it comes to specific issues related to hunger, says
Glenn Palmberg, president of the Evangelical Covenant Church, who
attended the meeting. One of those issues is the level of federal
funding for programs like food stamps.
A Bread for the World analysis of the proposed Fiscal Year 2006 budget
suggests that changes in eligibility requirements proposed by the
president will result in a reduction in funding for food stamps by $500
million over the next five years, potentially removing an estimated
300,000 women and children from the roster of eligible recipients. An
added fear is that Congressional agriculture committees may further
reduce food stamp support as they seek to trim some $3 billion over the
next five years – the food stamp program is administered by the
Department of Agriculture.
Pollster Jim McLaughlin, whose firm McLaughlin and Associates conducted
the national poll, agreed with Palmberg that most people do not realize
cuts are being proposed. The poll was commissioned by the Alliance to
End Hunger.
Palmberg added that Americans are unaware of how much the United States
gives in worldwide humanitarian aid, saying that most think the country
gives 15 percent of its Gross Domestic Product. "The truth is we are one
of the worst in the world, giving two-tenths of one percent."
The poll findings reflect strong support for The Hunger-Free Communities
Act of 2005, which seeks to cut hunger in the United States by half by
2010. The act would be funded at $15 million and provide funding to
local organizations that work collaboratively to fight hunger. According
to the poll, 72 percent of respondents said they favored such legislation.
According to U.S. Census Data, 36 million Americans are hungry, at risk
of hunger, or "food insecure" – meaning they are unsure whether they
will be able to pay for food.
Other findings of the poll include:
- 75 percent of voters say the food program should be protected from
cuts by the administration or Congress even in a tight budget year.
- 63 percent of voters say that they feel the federal government is
spending too little on feeding hungry Americans.
- 58 percent agree that the United States has a moral obligation to
help lift Africa out of poverty.
- 77 percent of Americans favor President Bush committing the United
States to an initiative to work with the leading industrial nations to
support African countries that are working to reduce hunger, poverty and
disease.
- 62 percent of voters favor spending an addition $2 billion to
support child hunger and nutrition programs in Africa.
Pollster Jim McLaughlin said hunger issues often are not at the top of
people's political concerns until the issue is discussed with them.
McLaughlin said the results have significant political implications,
saying he tells candidates that they have to pay special attention to
any results that are above 65 percent.
McLaughlin believes there has been a "disconnect" between politicians
and the public on the hunger issue, but believes that is changing. "It's
no accident," McLaughlin notes, that John Edwards (considered a likely
Democratic presidential contender in 2008) is directing the Center on
Poverty, Work and Opportunity, which presents itself as a nonpartisan
initiative to bring policy experts together to discuss the issues. "It's
good policy and it's good politics," McLaughlin said.
"Overcoming hunger is central to all of our faith traditions," says
David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World. "Americans understand
the morality on this issue and now is the time for us to do our part."
(Accompanying photo shows Palmberg and Beckmann.)
The gathering Thursday represented a wide range of religious and secular
organizations. Participating were representatives of MAZON: A Jewish
Response to Hunger; the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater
Chicago; and Second Harvest – The Nation's Food Bank Network, which is
the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States.
Copyright © 2008 The Evangelical Covenant Church. |
