We call on our nations leaders to maintain a circle of protection around programs that effectively a

Time 2020-06-23 17:05:18

Web Name: We call on our nations leaders to maintain a circle of protection around programs that effectively a

WebSite: http://circleofprotection.us

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We call on our nation s leaders to maintain a circle of protection around programs that effectively alleviate hunger and poverty in the United States and around the world. - Circle of Protection / An Alliance of Christian Leaders Committed to Ending Poverty We are heads of Christian denominations, agencies, organizations, and educational institutions who believe that God expects national leaders to prioritize the needs of poor and hungry people. April 15, 2020Congress must quickly pass fourth COVID-19 response bill addressing the needs of struggling householdsWe write to you as the steering committee of the Circle of Protection, a coalition of church leaders from the main families of U.S. Christianity – Catholic, evangelical Protestant, ecumenical Protestant, the Historic African American churches, and Latino churches. As Christians, we believe that God is especially concerned with the plight of people in poverty – and that a key moral measure of government policies is how they treat those Jesus called “the least of these” (Matthew 25:45). And for us, poverty and racism are integrally connected, and must always be dealt with together we are all equally created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27) and public policy must always reflect that. People say that the COVID-19 coronavirus does not discriminate. But in fact, black and brown people with less access to safe and secure housing, to steady incomes, and to medical care and healthy bodies are more likely to be infected and die from this virus. Poverty and racism have become pre-existing conditions that also increase the chances of contracting this lethal disease. We also believe that special attention is required for many vulnerable groups, including incarcerated individuals, people in detention, Native Americans, and people experiencing homelessness which is critical for an effective and compassionate response and must be reflected in all efforts to lessen the impact of the spread of COVID-19.Thank you for quickly passing the first three COVID-19 response bills. Your legislation will provide urgently needed support to struggling families and help stabilize the economies of the US and its territories. Further significant action is needed. We implore you to quickly pass a fourth COVID response bill that addresses the needs of our country’s struggling households. Assistance measures should last not just for the duration of the health crisis or other short-term period but should be extended to remain in place as long as the economic crisis continues, and we urge you to give priority to the swelling ranks of people in poverty. Read the full letter March 24, 2020Call for increased SNAP food assistance in the recovery programIn the name of God, we ask you to include an increase in SNAP food assistance in the recovery program the Senate is negotiating now. An expansion of SNAP would help the millions of households who are vulnerable to destitution and severe, prolonged hunger in this crisis. The great majority of these people are children, seniors, or disabled people. We are particularly concerned for those who are going to be most impacted by the economic fallout from the spread of COVID-19—low income workers and families at economic risk. Millions will likely lose their jobs, be furloughed, or have massive cuts in their working hours which will impact their ability to meet basic needs for their families.Please do everything you can to ensure we get this crucial provision in the final deal. Nothing will do more for Americans and the American economy in this moment than an increase in SNAP benefits. We will be watching this closely. Read the full letter February 11, 2020Church leaders speak out on administration actions that affect people in povertyAs leaders from all the families of U.S. Christianity, representing church bodies and networks serving more than 100 million Americans, we are concerned about administration action to cut safety net programs that help low-income people. The gospel of God’s love for all people moves us to speak together on this issue.We support the goal of helping Americans move from poverty to financial independence. But some of the administration’s policy changes and proposed cuts in funding for low-income programs are likely to add to the hunger, poverty, and economic insecurity which are already far too widespread in our country. Read the full letter March 6, 2019Letter to Congress on discretionary spending budget agreementWe believe budgets are moral documents; they reveal our values and show our priorities. Budgets show who and what we view as important.Later this year, Congress and the President will need to come together to reach a new budget agreement on topline funding levels for discretionary programs. Without such a deal, discretionary funding levels will return to austere levels required by the 2011 Budget Control Act, putting non-defense discretionary programs at risk of deep cuts. Read the full letter February 2018Unity statement on racismThe integral relationship between poverty and racism unifies us against both. They are both issues to which the gospel of Jesus Christ speaks — which also calls us to love our neighbors, without exceptions. Our unity on these issues is because they are theological issues for us, not merely political or partisan ones. These fundamentally biblical concerns challenge all of us and both of the major political parties. Read the full unity statement Elections 2020 Tell us what you will do as president to end poverty and hunger The Circle of Protection has a simple request to all presidential candidates: Make a short video telling the American people what you would do as president to offer help and opportunity to poor and hungry people in the U.S. and around the world.The request is critical to scores of top leaders from a broad spectrum of Christian traditions. In our letters to all the 2020 presidential candidates, we say, we care deeply about many issues facing our country, but ending hunger and poverty is a top priority of our work together. As we say in our letter, We want to know how each candidate proposes to fulfill the mandate to those who govern to give deliverance to the needy (Psalm 72). Read more about this initiative The Circle of Protection is composed of Christian leaders who are heads of denominations, agencies, organizations, and educational institutions. We share a belief that God expects national leaders to give priority to the needs of poor and hungry people. Contact us

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