Staff from DHN member organizations representing diverse religious traditions delivered letters to congressional offices Thursday, May 8th. The letters addressed proposed changes to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) ahead of budget resolution markups (H.R. Con. Res. 14). Signed by dozens of faith leaders from across traditions, the letters emphasized the moral importance of maintaining support for these essential programs that serve millions of Americans in need and accompanying the work of ministries across the nation.
“These letters and direct stories from ministries, places of worship, lay volunteers, and people experiencing food insecurity are essential for lawmakers to hear as they make decisions on core antihunger and healthcare programs."
The thoughtfully crafted messages from clergy, lay leaders and theologians highlighted how these programs directly impact vulnerable populations across the country, reflecting core religious values that transcend political divides. “As providers of food, emergency support, shelter, and spiritual care, the faith community plays a vital role in every congressional district across the U.S. These letters show that faith leaders across the nation agree that in this time of economic uncertainty, hunger is a policy choice and of profound moral concern,” said Andrew Fuller, Program Director for Economic Policy at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. “These letters and direct stories from ministries, places of worship, lay volunteers, and people experiencing food insecurity are essential for lawmakers to hear as they make decisions on core antihunger and healthcare programs."
Once the letters were delivered, DHN members prayed with congressional staffers, emphasizing the spiritual dimension of their work.
Pictured: Staff from DHN member organizations delivering the interfaith letters before praying outside the congressional office, Thursday, May 8th. Photo Credits: Hannah Santos, UCC.
The timing of this outreach coincided with budget discussions that could potentially adopt stark programmatic changes to Medicaid and SNAP. Over 78 million people rely on Medicaid across the United States, and over 42.5 million people use SNAP. While exact changes are still unknown, each committee has been instructed to find large amounts of monetary savings, meaning the only options are to reduce spending for Medicaid and SNAP. Faith communities witness firsthand how these programs support families facing difficult circumstances in both rural and urban areas.
