ELCA Advocacy Action Alert: Take Action to Fully Fund W.I.C and S.N.A.P

If Congress does not pass a new budget, core food programs for households facing hunger will be cut. Join faith leaders telling lawmakers to FULLY fund anti-hunger programs in the budget and Farm Bill in 2024 

Households benefiting from critical food assistance benefits could lose support as Congress faces several legislative deadlines that would impact anti-hunger initiatives. By Mar. 1, lawmakers must pass a new budget for expiring Department of Agriculture programs, including the critical Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) nutrition program, and by the end of September must authorize or extend a new Farm Bill.

Urge Congress to support WIC and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits at this critical moment, as legislators negotiate spending levels and the accessibility of these core anti-hunger programs.

Hunger and food insecurity are a reality for far too many families in the United States, a struggle which has only been compounded by inflation. Food-at-home costs rose an average of over 5% in 2023, and over 11% in 2022 by Department of Agriculture and Consumer Price Index estimates. Many ministries, food banks and church volunteers report new challenges such as longer food lines, empty shelves and surging demand that the religious community cannot meet alone. Congress and our public partners must hear about the experiences of our ministries and from concerned constituents now.

Hunger in the 2024 Budget
The WIC program, which supports the health and nutrition of pregnant women, new mothers, and is facing significant funding shortfalls this year. This jeopardizes the well-being of mothers and infants, hindering their access to essential nutritional support.  Without intervention from Congress, two million eligible low-income women and children could be turned away from food assistance starting in September. WIC funding must be determined by Congress by a legislative deadline of Mar. 1, as funding for several federal programs is set to expire.

SNAP Benefits in the Farm Bill
The Farm Bill is a crucial resource in the fight against hunger. SNAP, a cornerstone of the Farm Bill, provides vital assistance to low-income individuals and families, ensuring access to the nutrition we all need. However, proposed changes to the program and funding cuts threaten its effectiveness and reach. Lutherans across the United States last year gathered in various listening sessions, weighing in on what should be core priorities in any Farm Bill. We must stand together to advocate for a Farm Bill that strengthens, not weakens, SNAP to ensure that vulnerable populations do not go hungry.

Here are some steps you can do to take action:

• Contact Congress: Send a customized message through the ELCA Action Center to your lawmakers to raise support for these critical anti-hunger programs through the ELCA Action Center. Adding your own personal story, theological perspective, or volunteer experience will make your message uniquely compelling.

• Go Further: Consider giving to ELCA World Hunger to help support Lutheran efforts to address hunger and its root causes, strengthening our shared mission striving for a just world where all are fed.

• Share Widely: Volume of calls and emails are urgently needed. Share this email and tell your friends that the time to take action is now.

Thank you for your advocacy.