Catholic Leaders Urge House to Support Farm Bill That Provides For Poor and Hungry, Promotes Fairness and Stewardship

WASHINGTON—Leaders of five nationalCatholic organizations, including two chairmen of committees of the U.S.Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), urged the U.S. House of Representativesto support a Farm Bill that "provides for poor and hungry people both at homeand abroad, offers effective support for those who grow our food, ensuresfairness to family farmers and ranchers, and promotes stewardship of the land."

The appeal came in a June 17 lettersigned by Bishop Stephen E. Blaire of Stockton, California, chairman of theUSCCB Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, and Bishop RichardE. Pates of Des Moines, Iowa, chairman of the USCCB Committee on InternationalJustice and Peace. They were joined by Father Larry Snyder, president of CatholicCharities USA, Carolyn Woo, president of Catholic Relief Services, James Ennis,executive director of the National Catholic Rural Life Conference, and SheilaK. Gilbert, president of the National Council of the Society of St. Vincent dePaul.

The letter protested $20 billion inproposed cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known asfood stamps, citing "continued high unemployment and a struggling economy." Asthe House of Representatives prepares to vote this week on the 2013 Farm Bill,the leaders asked legislators to make priorities for poor and hungry people athome and abroad, conservation and rural development. "This is a crucial time tobuild a more just framework that puts poor and hungry people first, servessmall and moderate-sized family farms, promotes sustainable stewardship of theland and helps vulnerable farmers and rural communities both at home and indeveloping countries," they wrote.

The full letter isavailable online: www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/agriculture-nutrition-rural-issues/upload/letter-to-house-on-farm-bill-2013-06-17.pdf

---

Keywords: Farm Bill, U.S. House of Representatives, USCCB,U.S. bishops, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Catholic Relief Services,CRS, Catholic Charities USA, Father Larry Snyder, Carolyn Woo, NationalCatholic Rural Life Conference, National Council of the Society of St. Vincentde Paul, Bishop Stephen E. Blaire, Bishop Richard E. Pates, Domestic Justiceand Human Development, International Justice and Peace, food stamps

# # # # #