Lucas,
I wanted to update you to let you know that last night we finally had our vote. Unfortunately, despite bipartisan support, we came up short in passing my amendment. However, the good news is, that with your help, we raised awareness, elevated the debate and rallied enough votes to block several harmful amendments to cut even more out of the food stamp program.
Nothing in this world worth doing is easy. When I took on this fight, I knew the deck was stacked against us, but that doesn't matter, and I am proud we fought as hard as we could.
I promise you, and I hope you will promise me, that we won't give up and will let this setback inspire us to work even harder for what we believe is right.
Thank you so much for your friendship and support.
Kirsten
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Kirsten Gillibrand
Date: June 19, 2012 11:13:15 AM
Subject: FWD: words no mother wants to hear
Dear Friend,
I just found out that we won our fight to have a vote on our amendment to restore the deep cuts to vital nutritional assistance in the food stamp program. Republican leaders tried to keep our amendment from seeing the light of day, but now we will have a vote, possibly later today, to help the neediest among us, almost half of whom are children. This will put the Senate on record as to where they stand and who they fight for, so people can be held accountable for their indifference to the challenges too many Americans are facing in this tough economy.
I need you to join me in demanding that the Senate pass my amendment. Families are counting on us.
I can't thank you enough for your continued encouragement and support. It means more than you know to me to not be standing alone in these difficult fights.
Sincerely,
Kirsten
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Kirsten Gillibrand
Date: June 16, 2012 9:45:15 AM
Subject: words no mother wants to hear
Dear Friend,
I just wanted to reach out to you and give you a quick update on something I am fighting for in Congress. Currently we are debating what is known as "The Farm Bill," a five-year piece of legislation that impacts all of America's agriculture policy through 2017. It also dictates vital funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), better known as food stamps.
On Thursday, I discussed the need to restore SNAP funding on PoliticsNation with Al Sharpton -- and spoke out against the baseless attacks from its opponents. Please click here to watch the segment now.
The current draft of the bill cuts funding for this vital anti-poverty program by $4.5 billion. To put that in context, what it means is that nearly 300,000 families in New York alone will receive $90 less a month for food. That is basically the last week of the month in groceries. In this already tough economy, a family losing this help will be devastating. More than half of food stamp recipients are children, 17% are seniors and now, unfortunately, as many veterans are using food stamps as any time in history.
Imagine hearing your child say, "Mommy I am hungry" night after night and not being able to give him or her the food they need. It breaks my heart. As a mother and a legislator, I cannot stand quietly by as this happens.
I have an amendment to restore these funds that does not add a penny to the national debt, ask any sacrifice of our hardworking farmers, or raise taxes on anybody. Hopefully we will have a chance to vote on this bipartisan, common-sense solution. But the outcome is still not clear.
Our fight is a tough one, but one worth having. And I just wanted to thank you for standing with me, and our families and children in need, as we continue to push for what is right.
Sincerely,
Kirsten Gillibrand
U.S. Senator