Dear New Yorker,
As you might have heard, the U.S. House of Representatives passed an irresponsible and extremely disappointing Farm Bill that doesn't include provisions for food stamps (Missing: The Food Stamp Program, NY Times Editorial, 7/12/13).
Since 1973, this essential piece of legislation has coupled farm funding and nutritional needs. To undo this is perilous and puts us further down the path to gutting food stamp benefits. Millions of Americans – including 1.9 million New Yorkers – rely on food stamps, and we must continue to fight for this vital safety net.
The House has agreed to make unacceptable policy and funding decisions on the backs of the hungry by separating rural agricultural interests from more traditional urban hunger and nutritional concerns.
We are urging the more responsible members of Congress to come to a sensible solution that addresses the health and nutritional needs of struggling and vulnerable New Yorkers and Americans.
Our heartfelt thanks to everyone who responded to our last email urging folks to take action on this issue.
As the NY Times editorial above reports, the only way forward is for a Senate-House conference committee to restore the food stamp program to the Farm Bill. If you would like to help make sure that happens, please contact Washington today. Contact information for your senators and representative can be found at http://www.senate.gov/ and http://www.house.gov/, respectively.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Christine C. Quinn
Speaker
NYC Council
Annabel Palma
Chair, General Welfare Committee
NYC Council
Helen D. Foster,
Chair, State & Federal Legislation Committee
NYC Council