“Government shutdowns often have a negative impact on working families with children, at-risk seniors, people with disabilities, and others facing food insecurity. But the loss of SNAP benefits will be devastating. Approximately 42 million people, including 16 million children, rely on SNAP every month. This is the first time in the history of the program that SNAP recipients will not receive their monthly benefits.

“It is not just SNAP recipients who will be harmed if funding is not made available. Grocery stores, farmers, food processors, and the people who work for them, will also be impacted.

“Food banks across the country are already warning they will not be able to keep up with the demand if SNAP benefits run out. This means tens of millions of people will have nowhere to turn, and children will go hungry.

“Throughout the Bible, we are called on to care for our neighbors in need. And as the wealthiest country in history we cannot stand by and let this happen.

“Bread for the World thanks Senator Josh Hawley for his thoughtful bill, the Keep SNAP Funded Act, which would help fund SNAP during this crisis and future ones. Funding for the bill would come from general U.S. Treasury funds that have not been allocated for any other purpose. We also appreciate the bipartisan support this bill has already received.

“Bread urges Democrats and Republicans to work together to address the looming SNAP funding cliff. We also urge the USDA to take all available steps to fund the program through the shutdown. For the sake of the tens of millions of Americans unsure of where their next meal will come from after November 1, we pray they will be able to prevent it from happening. 

“Ultimately, we need lawmakers to come together and negotiate an end to the government shutdown.”

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“Bread for the World welcomes the ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and Hamas and prays it will lead to a lasting peace. This war has gone on far too long, causing unthinkable human suffering on both sides – including the kidnapping of innocent Israeli civilians, the imprisonment and displacement of Palestinians, extreme hunger and famine, the wholesale destruction of Gaza, and tens of thousands of innocent civilian deaths, including children. Bread has repeatedly called for a peaceful resolution to this war and acknowledges President Trump and his administration’s critical role in brokering the ceasefire agreement.

“Bread now urges all parties involved to immediately scale up the delivery of desperately needed humanitarian assistance entering Gaza. Malnutrition and starvation have claimed the lives of hundreds of Palestinians, which humanitarian aid could have prevented. Much of the population of Gaza is experiencing emergency levels of hunger and more than 500,000 people are facing catastrophic levels. Almost 55,000 children under the age of six are estimated to be acutely malnourished.

“In addition, we urge Congress and the White House to increase funding for humanitarian assistance in the fiscal year 2026 budget. U.S. funded humanitarian assistance will not only help meet the dire need in Gaza, but also the many other countries that are facing famine and destruction including Sudan, Haiti, Mali, and South Sudan, among others.

“’Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with all of you.’ 2 Thessalonians 3:16.”

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“Bread for the World urges members of Congress to restore funding for Feed the Future Innovation Labs, a network of U.S. universities researching innovative ways to feed the world and position the United States as a leader in global food security and research.  

“Housed and led by U.S. universities, Feed the Future Innovation Labs have helped advance solutions to reduce global hunger and malnutrition. The knowledge gained by the labs has led to game-changing breakthroughs, including developing crops that can grow in harsh growing conditions, improving livestock resilience to disease, and strengthening the resiliency of aquatic food systems.”

Earlier this year, the White House cut off almost all funding for the innovation labs, forcing the vast majority of labs to close. On October 1, the White House cancelled the remaining $72 million in federal funding for the labs as a part of its “pocket rescission” of nearly $5 billion in international assistance. Senate Republicans had spared the $72 million for innovation lab funding from the White House’s first rescissions package in July.

Before the White House cancelled funding for the program, innovation labs were based in more than 80 universities across the United States. While a few innovation labs have been able to sustain or resume operations thanks to private donations and funding from individual universities, most remain closed down.

The innovation lab program has enjoyed broad, bipartisan support among members of Congress. Every $1 invested in the program has resulted in an $8 return in investment for U.S. taxpayers.

“Innovation lab research breakthroughs, as well as the education the labs provided, have enabled numerous communities around the world to become self-sufficient. The knowledge gained in innovation labs have also greatly benefitted U.S. farmers and growers who were able to apply that knowledge, as well as the communities the labs were based in.

“The defunding of the Feed the Future Innovation Lab network will have adverse ramifications both in the U.S. and globally. Bread urges Congress to restore funding for this consequential program.”

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“Bread for the World urges members of Congress from both sides of the aisle to come together in good faith to end the government shutdown. The proposed continuing resolution must be duly considered, while members also seek to address the devastating impact of recent Medicaid cuts on families. Extending the Affordable Care Act tax credits has bipartisan support in both houses of Congress, and many lawmakers are concerned about the impact of recent cuts on their constituents.

“Government shutdowns often have a devastating impact on people who struggle to put food on the table, including working families with children, at-risk seniors, people with disabilities, and others facing food insecurity as funding for SNAP, WIC, school meals, and other nutrition assistance programs runs out.

“Government shutdowns are especially hard on lower- and middle-income federal employees and contractors who will not receive pay during the shutdown. The longer a shutdown lasts, the more difficult it is for these families.

“But, in this case, the implications could be even worse for tens thousands of federal workers and their families if the White House follows through on its threat of mass firings. Thousands of federal employees in both Republican and Democratic districts are likely to be affected.  

“For the good of America’s families, members of Congress need to put their differences aside, act with good faith, and negotiate a bipartisan deal to end the government shutdown.”

Potential Impacts of an Extended Government Shutdown

• Food assistance for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients could be impacted by delays and other issues within a month of a government shutdown. The 2018-2019 shutdown lasted 35 days.
• The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), which serves approximately 7 million pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, as well as infants and children up to age five each month, is expected to run out of funding within a week of a government shutdown.  
• Free and reduced-price school meal programs across the country, as well as meals served in Head Start and day care centers, could be affected. Schools and school districts will need to subsidize the cost of the meals. Rural and other school districts with smaller budgets could be hit especially hard. This happened during the 2018 government shutdown.
• Emergency humanitarian aid programs could be interrupted due to agencies being forced to shut down as well as potential staff cuts, which could have fatal consequences.

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“Bread for the World urges the USDA to reverse the discontinuation of the annual food insecurity survey and the accompanying Household Food Security in the United States report. The household food security report, produced by the USDA Economic Research Service (ERS), is the cornerstone of understanding how families experience food insecurity, especially those with children, and how they cope with this hardship.

“For the past three decades, both the survey and report have provided key indicators related to food access, food hardship, and the well-being of America’s children and families. The report also provides important data that helps local, state, and federal officials and lawmakers make informed policy decisions regarding nutrition program access.

“According to the most recent household food security report, in 2023, 47.4 million people – including 13.8 million children, were food insecure in the United States. As the wealthiest country in the world, the U.S. should work to ensure that every child has access to the nutritious food they need to be healthy and flourish. Without an accurate understanding of the number of people, including children, facing food insecurity, we cannot address food insecurity effectively in our country.

“Again, Bread strongly urges the USDA to reverse the discontinuation of the annual food security survey and report so that we can continue to make informed decisions on addressing hunger and securing food access for children and families.”

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“Bread for the World is extremely disappointed by congressional passage of the White House’s rescissions request, which significantly cuts funding for lifesaving international assistance programs including emergency humanitarian relief and United Nations programs such as UNICEF. The Lancet has reported that funding cuts for international humanitarian aid programs already initiated by the White House could cause more than 14 million additional deaths by 2030. Many more people will suffer and die due to these additional funding cuts. 

“We do want to acknowledge our support for some positive changes to the rescissions bill that were made by senators. The final bill ultimately excludes funding cuts the White House requested for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), and maternal and child nutrition and health. It also protects funding for Food for Peace and the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program, both of which deliver international food assistance provided by U.S. farmers, as well as Feed the Future innovation labs. Led by U.S. universities, Feed the Future innovation labs help advance solutions to reduce global hunger, poverty, and malnutrition.”

The bill rescinds funding approved by Congress for fiscal years 2024 and 2025 and codifies many of the cuts to USAID and State Department programs initiated by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Much of the funding rescinded by this bill was passed by Congress and signed into law in March of this year. And because of this bill’s passage, the White House has already signaled it plans to submit additional rescissions requests.

“Congress passed this funding for a reason – international assistance makes America stronger, safer, and more prosperous. Rescinding funding for lifesaving international humanitarian assistance has the opposite effect and will cause our country to appear as an unreliable partner. We know that the DOGE cuts to international assistance programs have already resulted in tens of thousands of unnecessary deaths – including children. Why would we purposely cause more?

“God calls on us to care for our neighbors. It doesn’t matter if they are next door or an ocean away. Bread urges Congress to reject any future rescissions requests to international or domestic assistance programs.”  

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“Bread for the World enthusiastically welcomes this bill, which funds key nutrition programs that support children and families while also benefiting U.S. farmers. With hunger still on the rise in the U.S. and as the world continues to experience the worst hunger and nutrition crisis in a generation, Bread urges both the Senate and House to pass it.

“The Senate bill fully funds the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), while the bill passed by the House Appropriations Committee does not. It also funds Food for Peace and the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program at higher levels than the House Appropriations Committee bill. However, funding for Food for Peace in comparison to last year would drop from $1.619 billion in fiscal year 2025 to $1.5 billion in fiscal year 2026. Funding for McGovern-Dole would remain steady in comparison to the last fiscal year at $240 million. The White House has proposed defunding both programs.

“Fully funding WIC will ensure that all families who qualify for the program will be able to participate in it. WIC participation is critical to the health and well-being of low-income mothers, babies, and young children. It enables families to purchase nutritious foods and provides health care referrals and information on healthy eating. This bill will also fully fund the WIC cash value voucher (CVV) program, which helps families purchase fruits and vegetables with their benefits, giving young kids the nutrition boost they need to develop.

“Food for Peace purchases and ships U.S. agricultural products around the world to address hunger emergencies. It fosters economic development in countries and regions that will benefit from this investment, and it strengthens U.S. diplomacy and national security. Since President Dwight Eisenhower signed Food for Peace into law over 70 years ago, it has reached more than four billion people in 150 countries with emergency humanitarian food and nutrition assistance provided by U.S. farmers.

“The McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program provides U.S. agricultural commodities and financial and technical assistance to lower-income countries to establish school feeding programs. In FY 2023, the program delivered nutritious school meals to more than 2.5 million food-insecure children in 34 countries.

“The fact that members of the Appropriations Committee negotiated this bill in a bipartisan manner and that it passed unanimously is an encouraging sign. Historically, funding for hunger and nutrition programs has been approved with bipartisan support on Capitol Hill. Even in these challenging times, this bill gives me hope that providing adequate funding for vital nutrition programs will once again be something in which Republicans and Democrats work on together and support.”

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“The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the United States’ most important anti-hunger program. Each month 42 million people rely on SNAP to put food on the table. Forty percent of SNAP recipients are children.

“Medicaid provides health care for roughly 70 million low-income, elderly, and disabled Americans, as well as nearly half of all children in the United States. Studies show that households with children who participate in Medicaid experience significant reductions in food insecurity.

 “We need to be clear eyed and honest – this bill’s passage will significantly increase hunger in the United States. The unprecedented funding cuts enacted in the bill will bring harm to children, families, and vulnerable adults. Additionally, these cuts will have a ripple effect, impacting farmers, small business owners, hospitals, and even entire communities.”

The budget reconciliation bill, which is about to become law, cuts SNAP funding by close to $200 billion over ten years. The bulk of the funding cuts come from pushing a portion of SNAP costs on to states, expanding strict work requirements, and banning refugees and others here lawfully for humanitarian reasons from receiving SNAP. Close to 3 million people could lose their SNAP benefits. The new law will also freeze future benefit increases through the Thrifty Food Plan.

The bill cuts Medicaid funding by $1 trillion and makes significant changes to the program – including adding additional work requirements. An estimated 17 million people could lose their Medicaid coverage now that the bill has passed.

Over the past several months, Bread has worked tirelessly to stop the steep SNAP and Medicaid funding cuts. Bread members and supporters have sent tens of thousands of emails, held hundreds of congressional meetings, and made numerous phone calls urging their members of Congress to reject the cuts.

“God calls on us to care for our neighbors in need. This bill fails that test. Bread will not stop until Congress restores full funding for these vital programs,” added Cho.

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“Bread for the World opposes the White House’s rescission request and strongly urges members of Congress to reject it. If passed, the rescission request would significantly cut funding for international disaster assistance, development assistance, and global health – including lifesaving global hunger and nutrition programs. If Congress allows these drastic funding cuts, countless lives could be put at risk.” 

The rescission request would rescind funding approved by Congress for fiscal years 2024 and 2025 and codify many of the cuts to USAID and State Department programs initiated by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Specifically, international disaster assistance would be cut by $500 million, global health by $900 million, and development assistance by $2.5 billion. 

“Codifying these DOGE cuts to USAID and State Department programs will likely lead to more DOGE-related rescission requests targeting global humanitarian aid funding. Congress approves this funding for a reason: U.S. global humanitarian assistance not only puts into action God’s calling for us to care for our neighbors by saving and improving the lives of tens of millions of people every year, it makes America stronger, safer, and more prosperous.”

Bread for the World is a Christian advocacy organization urging U.S. decision makers to do all they can to pursue a world without hunger

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“The House budget reconciliation package does little to help the most vulnerable families and instead includes numerous provisions that will push millions of children deeper into hunger and poverty. Bread for the World opposes this harmful package and strongly urges lawmakers to reject it,” said Rev. Eugene Cho, president and CEO of Bread for the World.

The reconciliation package makes significant changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in order to cut $290 billion from the program over ten years – the largest single reduction of domestic food assistance ever enacted. The bulk of the funding cuts come from pushing costs of the program on to states, imposing strict work requirements on unmarried couples, single parents, and other guardians with children over six and older adults up to age 64, and limiting future benefit increases.

On May 13, Rev. Cho sent a letter to House Agriculture Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson, Ranking Member Angie Craig, and members of the Committee outlining Bread’s concerns with the harmful SNAP provisions. 

“SNAP is the United States’ most important anti-hunger program. Each month, SNAP helps 42 million Americans put food on the table for families. In fact, 40 percent of SNAP recipients are children. Make no mistake, these SNAP funding cuts will harm children and families,” said Cho.

Most states will not be able to afford cost-sharing a percentage of the SNAP benefits their residents receive, especially poorer states like West Virginia and New Mexico, which also have high SNAP participation rates. States will be forced to substantially reduce SNAP benefits or remove qualified people from the program – including families with children.

“Bread knows the value and dignity of work – and SNAP rules already recognize that by implementing work requirements for participants who are able. But imposing work requirements on single parents with children seven and older ignores the realities of low-wage jobs, erratic work schedules, and unaffordable childcare. Seven-year-olds are still young children and need adult supervision at all times. The reconciliation package also expands existing work requirements to older adults who face their own challenges,” said Rev. Heather Taylor, managing director of Bread for the World.

Freezing future benefit increases through the Thrifty Food Plan as food prices continue to rise will push millions of children and their families into hunger.

The House reconciliation package also fails to extend the expanded child tax credit (CTC) to the families who need it most. An estimated 17 million children, 1 in 4 children in the U.S., will not benefit from the modest $500 per child CTC increase because their families earn too little to receive it. Additionally, an estimated 4.5 million U.S. citizen and legal permanent resident children who have parents that are immigrants would become ineligible for the CTC under the new guidelines.

“The reason the 2021 CTC expansion was so effective at reducing child hunger and poverty is because it enabled the lowest-income families with children to receive the credit. This ‘expansion’ leaves out the most vulnerable children and will do little to reduce childhood hunger and poverty. We ask lawmakers to correct this mistake,” said Cho.

“God calls on us to care for the most vulnerable among us. This reconciliation package falls well short of that. ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did to me.’ Matthew 25:40,” added Cho.

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“Bread for the World celebrates with the Roman Catholic Church the election of Pope Leo XIV, the first American Pope. We are grateful to see the choice of his name, showing his affinity with Pope Leo XIII, who made Catholic Social Teaching a central issue during his pontificate and which is deeply aligned with our mission to end hunger. We look forward to learning more about Pope Leo XIV’s plans for the Church and will be praying for him as he takes on this new mission.”

Pope Leo XIV was born on the south side of Chicago, IL and is a graduate of Catholic Theological Union. He spent much of his adult life in Peru, where his mother is from and in which he holds dual citizenship, first as a missionary and in later years as a bishop. Pope Leo XIV was said to be close with Pope Francis, who brought him to Rome and named him a cardinal-bishop in February of this year.

“As Pope Leo XIV begins his leadership of the global Catholic Church, we prayerfully urge him to prioritize people suffering from hunger and poverty around the world. Bread for the World believes that ending hunger is possible in our lifetime, and we advocate for policies that reduce global malnutrition, increase support for mothers and children, promote climate resilience for farmers, and strengthen equitable access to economic opportunity. We hope the new Pope will lend his voice to these vital issues and encourage world leaders to act with moral urgency.

“We also invite Pope Leo XIV to continue Pope Francis’s powerful witness in calling for just food systems, compassionate immigration policies, and debt relief for countries burdened by poverty. As a faith-based organization working across denominations, Bread for the World stands ready to support and partner with the Catholic Church in advancing a shared commitment to justice, dignity, and the flourishing of all people.”

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“Bread for the World is gravely concerned by the funding cuts to humanitarian assistance outlined in the ‘skinny’ budget released by the Trump administration, including the elimination of Food for Peace, the United States’ premier global anti-hunger program, and the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program. The budget also makes significant cuts to international financial institutions, including the elimination of the International Fund for Agricultural Development.

“If enacted, these proposed cuts would result in tens, if not hundreds of thousands, of deaths in the next year. Many millions more will suffer from lifelong effects due to malnutrition. And as is always the case, children will bear the brunt of the proposed cuts. 

“Acute hunger is on the rise, affecting 343 million people in 74 countries. In Sudan, famine has been confirmed in 10 regions, with 17 additional regions at risk. Hundreds of thousands of people teeter on the brink of famine in Gaza, South Sudan, Haiti, and Mali. The dismantling of U.S. humanitarian aid programs has made all of these situations immeasurably worse. 

“Investments in international aid are well under 1 percent of the U.S. federal budget, but their positive impacts are enormous in terms of saving lives and improving U.S. national security and prosperity. They support U.S. strategic interests by building and maintaining relationships with partner countries, helping to mitigate conflicts, and promoting regional stability favorable for U.S. markets. Furthermore, such investments promote strong health systems that help the U.S. to detect and prevent infectious diseases from entering our borders. 

“Bread strongly urges Congress to appropriate robust funding for international humanitarian and nutrition assistance– including the Food for Peace and McGovern-Dole programs – in the FY 2026 budget. ’We must not withhold good from those whom it is due, when it is in our power to act,’ (Proverbs 3:27).”

Food for Peace supports U.S. farmers and people experiencing hunger around the world. Since its enactment in 1954, Food for Peace has fed 58 million people globally from the surplus U.S. agriculture commodities. 

The McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program uses U.S. agriculture commodities and other assistance to provide nutrition school meals to children. Since it began operations in 2003, McGovern-Dole has provided school meals to more than 40 million children in 40 of the world’s most food-insecure countries.

Bread for the World is a Christian advocacy organization urging U.S. decision makers to do all they can to pursue a world without hunger

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“Bread for the World is deeply saddened by the passing of Pope Francis. He was a fierce champion for people experiencing hunger and poverty, and throughout his life and papacy, advocated for alleviation of both. Our prayers are most especially with our Catholic friends and family around the world.   

“During his address to the World Food Programme in 2016, Pope Francis shared ‘A people plays out its future by its ability to respond to the hunger and thirst of its brothers and sisters. In that ability to come to the aid of the hungry and thirsty, we can measure the pulse of our humanity.’ Those words could not be more relevant today.”

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During the vigil, hosted by Bread for the World and the Accord Network, the Christian leaders and aid supporters joined together to pray for and urge the administration and members of Congress to protect lifesaving aid and heed God’s call to meet the needs of those who are hungry, thirsty, and require medical care.

“As Christians, we are called on by God to care for our neighbors, be they next door or an ocean away. Our concern for our neighbors experiencing famine, poverty, and instability puts this calling into action – just as we have been blessed, so should we bless others,” said Rev. Eugene Cho, president and CEO of Bread for the World. 

Without lifesaving aid, tens of millions of people would be left without access to clean water, sanitation, nutrition assistance, and medicine. Millions of people, especially children, could be at risk of harm or death unless these programs are protected. 

For just a small percentage of the federal budget (well under 1 percent), lifesaving aid has an outsized impact. These strategic investments not only save and improve the lives of tens of millions of people every year, they also make our country stronger, safer, and more prosperous.

“Lifesaving aid programs not only improve the lives of tens if not hundreds of millions of people worldwide – particularly women and children – they secure America’s standing as a moral leader and trusted partner and help to keep America safe,” said Cho. “We urge the administration and Congress to protect lifesaving aid.”

“Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me.” Matthew 25:40.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – February 4, 2025 – Bread for the World, a Christian advocacy organization urging U.S. decision-makers to pursue a world without hunger, announced Tuesday night the launch of its “Nourish Our Future” campaign focused on eradicating child hunger in the United States and around the world. 

Rev. Eugene Cho, president and CEO of Bread for the World; Rev. Heather Taylor, Bread for the World managing director; and Dr. Jeremy Everett, Bread for the World board chair, were joined by advocates, experts, and Republican and Democratic members of Congress at the Capitol Visitor Center for the launch along with more than 1,000 people participating online.

“Nourish Our Future” is a two-year campaign that partly comprises expanding the Child Tax Credit, addressing college hunger, fully funding and strengthening the Special Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and robustly funding global nutrition. 

“Making sure that children, here in the United States and around the world, have the nutrition they need to grow and learn is the right thing to do. It’s also an efficient use of tax dollars. The ROI on nutrition investments is incredible, and the programs we’re supporting are evidence-based. That’s why Bread is launching ‘Nourish Our Future,’” said Cho.

During the launch, advocates with lived experience provided powerful testimonials about the importance of these programs to their lives and the well-being of their families.

Members of Congress, including Congresswoman Alma S. Adams (D-NC), Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-AL), Congressman Don Bacon (R-NE), Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (D-CT), Pablo José Hernández, Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico, Congressman Darin LaHood (R-IL), and Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA), also spoke about the “Nourish Our Future” priorities they have supported in Congress. 

Statements from the advocates and members of Congress are below. 

Cho noted the devastating impacts the pause on foreign aid will have, and what the proposed funding cuts to domestic programs could mean, for child nutrition programs but stressed that there is a way to move forward. 

“The best thing we can do in this political environment is advocate for the policies we believe in. It’s especially important to acknowledge that the work to end hunger has always been done in a bipartisan way. We are so honored that members of Congress from both sides of the aisle are nutrition champions supportive of ‘Nourish Our Future’ – and we’re eager to connect with every member of Congress to have critical conversations about nutrition. When kids are fed and nourished, their entire life changes for the better– they can truly flourish. The drive to ensure children are able to flourish is why Bread seeks to build the imagination for a political alternative to polarization.”  

Over 9 million children in the U.S. — one in eight — experience hunger every day. Nearly half of all preventable deaths among children under 5 are attributed to malnutrition. And yet, we are only able to reach 25 percent of those suffering from the most dangerous forms. Spending on foreign aid is, on average, less than 1 percent of the federal budget, but the impact of the programs is far-reaching. In 2023, USAID support reached 28 million children with vital nutrition programs. For every $1 invested in addressing undernutrition, countries see $23 in returns.

The “Nourish Our Future” campaign seeks to ensure a hunger-free future for vulnerable children by driving collective action and securing the necessary will to provide the resources needed to address the problem.

Statements from advocates with lived experience:

Child Tax Credit

“As a hardworking Arkansan, I’ve faced numerous challenges, including affordable childcare, food instability, and timely utility payments and rent. The Child Tax Credit has been a vital support system, helping me provide a more stable financial future for my family,” said Julie Sigears of Springdale, Arkansas. “The Child Tax Credit helps families like mine stay above water when unexpected events happen. During covid, I was able to use the Child Tax Credit to pay for childcare when my work schedule changed, requiring me to find different childcare arrangements. Without this support, I might have had to leave my job, pushing my family into a financial crisis. I firmly believe a permanent Child Tax Credit with full refundability and monthly payments is essential for families like mine. It’s not just about helping us, it’s about investing in our community’s well-being. I urge those lawmakers here tonight to prioritize this support for families and make it a reality. ”

College Hunger

“I have double majored in political science and human development and family science, and double minored in sociology and youth studies. In May, I will be the first in my family to graduate from college. Like many first-generation students, I work long hours to support myself and often don’t have money to access enough nutritious food,” said Mya Bell, a student at Purdue University Northwest in Indiana. “As a child, I helped my mom apply for SNAP. Having this responsibility at a young age filled me with immense worry for my family’s well-being, a worry I still carry with me today. As president of my university’s food pantry, I also help other students apply for SNAP, but it wasn’t until last week that a Bread for the World organizer suggested I apply for SNAP myself. Again, I experienced that same intense fear of misunderstanding or answering something incorrectly and becoming ineligible to receive food. It took me back to my childhood and to fears that I hoped I would never have to experience again.”

WIC

“Many have asked me why — with a master’s degree in biological sciences and a career as a research coordinator — I would need WIC,” said Ashley Blair, a mother from Memphis, Tennessee. “To be honest, when I first took on the role, I was being paid less than a worker at McDonald’s. The notion that someone with a degree would not need financial assistance is just not true. We wrestle with many of the same financial hardships as others. At one point, I had to carefully budget every penny. I vividly remember my daughter having a dentist’s appointment where her exam was not covered under my insurance. I had to choose between paying for my daughter’s dental exam or providing her with the food she needed. No parent should have to choose between feeding their child or getting the necessary screenings done to ensure quality of life. Having access to WIC has made a huge difference in my life and I am here asking that the WIC program be fully funded and modernized. The ‘Nourish Our Future’ platform will strengthen families so the fight to end hunger can be resolved. I’m excited to be a voice for Bread for the World and I cannot wait to see what they accomplish now and in the future. I urge those lawmakers here tonight to prioritize this support for families and support funding the WIC program.”

Global Nutrition

“’How did they survive? What did they eat?’ These questions weighed heavily on me as I first learned of my grandparents’ experience of World War II in Asia. My grandparents are from Singapore and these questions of survival echo in my work today,” said Joy Lee, program administrator for the Master of Arts in Humanitarian & Disaster Leadership program at Wheaton College in Illinois. “I’ve had the privilege of working with graduate students from Liberia, Malawi, and Uganda, countries where many people live with malnutrition. Walking with them as they serve and advocate in places of loss and survival led me to understand the complex challenges of global malnutrition, and an even deeper concern for the harsh realities of hunger, particularly for children.

Amidst these challenges that can bring us to tears, I’ve grown to see the glimmers of God’s love moving as people take action to learn more, transform food systems, and enhance global nutrition. The legacy of hope and partnership from the United States is essential and supports U.S. strategic interests. Tonight, in these uncertain times, I stand with Bread for the World to urge Congress to take action and provide robust funding for global nutrition in the federal budget so children, made in the image of God who are asking ‘how will I survive? What will I eat?’, can walk their unique paths of boundless potential.”

Statements from members of Congress:

“You can’t be healthy if you’re hungry. We need many approaches to tackle hunger in our communities and across the country. Now more than ever, addressing college hunger, fully funding WIC, expanding the child tax credit, and fighting hunger abroad must all be essential strategies in addressing what I call my four H’s: hunger, housing, healthcare, and higher education. I commend Bread for the World’s efforts to literally ‘nourish our future’ and am proud to have led on – and continue to lead on – these issues,” said Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D., (D-NC).

“I was honored to speak at the launch of Bread for the World’s ‘Nourish Our Future’ campaign. This incredible organization continues to do vital work in addressing hunger and supporting families across the country and around the world. At the event, I was excited to discuss the importance of expanding the Child Tax Credit—ensuring that it supports even the lowest-income families. Strengthening this policy will help lift millions of children out of poverty and give families the resources they need to thrive. I’m grateful for Bread for the World’s leadership and advocacy in this space, and I look forward to working together to create a brighter future for our children and our nation,” said Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-AL).

“Many people believe hunger is an overseas problem, but it’s not just that. It’s an American problem as well. It’s not because there isn’t enough food available, but access to it is limited. That is why I support Bread for World’s ‘Nourish Our Future’ campaign, which includes a call to fully fund WIC which provides mothers and young children with nutritious food, breastfeeding support and other programs. As a parent, I’m also concerned about college food insecurity. Many people don’t know this even exists and I’m excited to learn more about it and lead on this issue,” said Congressman Don Bacon (R-NE).

“I was honored to attend Bread for the World’s Launch of the ‘Nourish Our Future’ Campaign last evening. Food assistance programs are not just about feeding people; they are about creating stability, dignity, and opportunity. Transitioning from NAP to SNAP and strengthening WIC in Puerto Rico would help ensure that every family has access to the nutrition and support they deserve. But food security is just one piece of the puzzle. That’s why I am laser-focused on fueling Puerto Rico’s economic development and ensuring equal treatment in all federal benefits,” said Pablo José Hernández, Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico.

“Bread for the World plays a critical role in educating and advocating for the improved health and well-being of children and families. It was an honor to speak at the ‘Nourish Our Future’ kick-off event and I want to congratulate Bread on celebrating their 50th anniversary. While we have made some strides in reducing childhood hunger, we must do a better job prioritizing federal policy aimed at addressing the global nutrition crisis. I am committed to working alongside Republicans and Democrats in Congress to address the challenges of global child hunger,” said Congressman Darin LaHood (R-IL).

“I’m always thrilled to join my friends at Bread for the World, and especially as they launch their new ‘Nourish Our Future’ platform. Now, more than ever, we as anti-hunger advocates need to speak up loud and clear about the scourge of hunger. We cannot allow our vital anti-hunger programs to be gutted. I extend my sincere thanks to everyone at Bread for the World for recommitting themselves to the vital mission to end hunger once and for all,” said Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA).

To learn more about Bread for the World’s commitment to a world without hunger and its 50 years of faithful advocacy, visit www.bread.org.

About Bread for the World

Bread for the World is a Christian advocacy organization urging U.S. decision-makers to do all they can to pursue a world without hunger. www.bread.org.

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The statement can be attributed to Rev. Eugene Cho, president and CEO of Bread.   

“Bread mourns the passing of former president, noted humanitarian, global health advocate, and Nobel Peace Prize winner Jimmy Carter. Guided by his deep Christian faith, President Carter impacted the lives of tens of millions of people in the United States and globally. In 1982, President Carter and his wife, Rosalynn Carter, established The Carter Center, an internationally recognized organization based in Atlanta that ‘seeks to prevent and resolve conflicts, enhance freedom and democracy, and improve health.’  In the U.S., President Carter may be best known for his more than 35-year partnership with, and volunteerism for, Habitat for Humanity, in which he and his wife personally helped build or remodel 4,447 homes in 14 countries.

“During President Carter’s time in office, Bread had the opportunity to meet with his administration and encourage their support for policies that make an impactful reduction to hunger and other vulnerabilities. President Carter signed into law several anti-hunger measures Bread and its membership actively advocated for, including the Child Nutrition Amendments of 1978, which funded school food programs and the childcare food program, and substantially expanded the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). He also signed the Agriculture Act of 1980, which authorized the Food Security Wheat Reserve (later renamed the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust), and issued an Executive Order establishing the reserve. The reserve and its iterations have been used by multiple administrations to address global emergency food assistance needs.

“Bread expresses our deepest condolences to the Carter family and all those who have been touched by his extraordinary life.”  

Bread for the World is a Christian advocacy organization urging U.S. decision makers to do all they can to pursue a world without hunger

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The following statement can be attributed to Rev. Eugene Cho, president and CEO of Bread for the World:

“I commend the United States for its strong pledge to the IDA21 replenishment. A pledge to IDA is an investment to address the drivers of hunger and malnutrition, putting sufficient funding and financing into place to deliver interventions at scale.

“With approximately 735 million people in the world who faced hunger in 2023, a strong pledge from the U.S. allows the 78 lowest-income countries eligible to receive IDA resources to strengthen their economies and make progress against hunger and malnutrition. Currently 19 of the 22 hunger hotspots, countries with the most severe and deteriorating acute hunger situations, are IDA recipient countries.

“Since IDA’s establishment in 1960, 35 countries have graduated from IDA and 27 of these countries are U.S. trading partners.

“As an organization deeply informed by our faith in Christ, we believe that God calls on us to care for our neighbors in their times of need, whether they are in the next house, the next country, or the next continent. We are hopeful the next administration and Congress will continue to support strategic investments and interventions addressing global hunger and malnutrition.”

Additional Resources:

• Why We Are Advocating for a Successful IDA Replenishment
• World Bank Senior Managing Director Axel van Trotsenburg interview with Bread for the World President and CEO Rev. Eugene Cho on ending hunger at the 2024 World Bank-IMF Spring Meetings
• Increasing IDA to Reduce Hunger

The post Bread Statement on U.S. Pledge to World Bank’s IDA Fund for Low-Income Countries appeared first on Bread for the World.

“Bread for the World congratulates President-elect Donald J. Trump, Vice-President-elect J.D. Vance, and all of the 2024 congressional election winners. We will keep President-elect Trump, Vice-President-elect Vance, and the new Congress in prayer as they guide our nation through this next chapter. We also pray for the peaceful transition of power.

“When Congress returns from recess next week, we urge lawmakers to ensure programs that address hunger and malnutrition, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and global nutrition programs such as Food for Peace, are fully funded through fiscal year 2025.

“We also urge Congress to pass a farm bill during the lame duck session that protects and strengthens all domestic and global nutrition programs included in the legislation.

“Next year, Bread will launch its Nourish Our Future campaign, which will focus on child hunger. Nearly 14 million children in the U.S. are experiencing food insecurity and 45 million children globally suffer from wasting, the most devastating form of malnutrition. 

“Bread looks forward to working with the new Administration and Congress to ensure all children, both in the United States and around the world, have access to the nutrition they need to flourish.

“God calls on us to care for our neighbors. We pray, in a spirit of unity, that we follow in the footsteps of Jesus to bring hope and practical solutions to help people experiencing hunger.”

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