The disastrous budget reconciliation package that is now in the Senate will severely harm at-risk communities unless substantial changes are made.
The $295 million in SNAP cuts will increase hunger across the country, hitting children, seniors, and working families the hardest. At a time when food insecurity is still high in many communities, cutting SNAP is both cruel and short-sighted.
Roughly 15 million Americans will lose health coverage because of the $800 billion cut to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act along with other provisions in the House package.
Tens of millions of people with low incomes will lose access to basic needs programs, all to give tax breaks that primarily benefit the wealthy and corporations while inflicting harm on immigrant communities.
We cannot keep allowing the passage of these unfair tax policies that disproportionately benefit the rich while making low-income and vulnerable communities suffer, including by taking food assistance and health care away from millions. That’s not good for our society or economy.
Now more than ever, it’s critical that Congress protect health care, nutrition, and other essential services that help millions of families meet their basic needs. We should strengthen support for these programs—not take them away. We need each and every Senator to get a strong and clear message that their constituents oppose these harmful proposals.
An archive of this webinar is available here.
A special webinar with authors Kathryn Edin and Luke Shaefer, whose book $2 a Day describes in depth the lives of families living in extreme poverty in America. $2.00 a Day has been included in theNew York Times Book Review list of 100 Notable Books of 2015. When he reviewed the book in September, respected Harvard sociologist William Julius Wilson wrote, “This essential book is a call to action, and one hopes it will accomplish what Michael Harrington’s “The Other America” achieved in the 1960s, arousing both the nation’s consciousness and conscience about the plight of a growing number of invisible citizens.”
Kathy and Luke will be joined by a panel of experts: people who have lived in such deep poverty. Their comments and questions,and yours, will be moderated by CHN’s executive director, Deborah Weinstein.
At a time when some are intent on feeding divisiveness and hatred, please join us in this call to conscience.
Special thanks to our co-sponsors:
Children’s Leadership Council
Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP)
Food Research & Action Center (FRAC)
National Women’s Law Center
MomsRising