Progressives Mobilize Against Cuts to Food Stamps

WASHINGTON - May 29, 2013 - PRLog -- PROGRESSIVES SAY NO TO FOOD STAMPS CUTS

WHO: Progressive Democrats of America (PDA), a grassroots federal PAC.
WHAT: Opposing cuts to Food Stamps aka Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
WHERE: In Washington, D.C. and Congressional district offices across the United States.
WHY: 50 Million Americans, 7 million children rely on Food Stamps for basic nutrition.
WHEN: Now and until the planned cuts to Food Stamps are removed from the Farm Bill.
HOW: Organizing office visits, phone calls, faxes, and email messages to Congress.

Contacts:     PDA National Director Tim Carpenter tim@pdamerica.org 413-320-2015
         PDA Communications Director Mike Hersh mike@pdamerica.org 301-602-9388

Interview with Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA) Watch video on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnfZoJ3CVbw



WASHINGTON, DC--Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) supporters are mobilizing to protect Food Stamps aka Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) from deep cuts. The House Farm Bill proposes to cut $20.5 billion from Food Stamps. After one day, more than 2,000 PDA supporters had sent more than 6,000 messages to 494 different Senators and House members telling them to vote against any Farm Bill which would cut funds from Food Stamps.

PDA National Director Tim Carpenter said, "It's a disgrace that lawmakers would even consider cuts to basic nutrition programs in these times of record-breaking stock markets, and too-big-to-fail banks. Some in Congress think people don't care about this, but we care deeply about hunger in America. The House Farm Bill would cut $20.5 billion from Food Stamps at a time when 50 Million Americans--including 7 million children--rely on Food Stamps for basic nutrition. As Americans, we should ensure everyone in our nation has adequate food. Public policy should help decrease hunger, not increase it or make it worse."

Carpenter added, "Any cuts to Food Stamps would increase hunger for the most vulnerable including working families, veterans, the elderly, disabled people and children. The SNAP / Food Stamps program helps promote healthier food and better farming practices. It helps support American farmers--including small, family farmers. These cuts make no sense on any level. They'll actually increase costs to tax payers. Full funding is a no-brainer."

PDA will continue the Educate Congress campaign letter drops at Congressional Offices on Capitol Hill and across the USA in June. This broad and growing national campaign will organize visits and letter drops in about 200 Congressional offices. More than 150 letters were delivered to Congressional offices in March and April, and 190 were delivered in May. The letters demand members of Congress take specific actions on key legislation. The Educate Congress campaign began nearly three years ago, and has focused on common sense solutions to shared challenges including tax, economic and budget policies, ending the war in Afghanistan, protecting voting rights, as well as guaranteeing personhood rights for people—not corporations—through a Constitutional Amendment.

Progressive Democrats of America was founded in 2004 to transform American politics and reform the Democratic Party to focus on principles including: economic and social justice; environmental protection; healthcare as a human right; ending corporate rule; election integrity; fair—not "free"—trade; equality for all; and ending wars and occupations.  See: http://www.pdamerica.org/

Contacts:     PDA National Director Tim Carpenter tim@pdamerica.org 413-320-2015
         PDA Communications Director Mike Hersh mike@pdamerica.org 301-602-9388