CHICAGO (ELCA) -- "A society's health can be measured by how it treats those in its midst who are most impoverished," the Rev. Russell O. Siler, director of the Lutheran Office for Governmental Affairs in Washington, D.C., wrote March 19 to members of the U.S. Senate and House Agriculture Committees. "It is imperative that restoration of food stamp benefits to legal immigrants be your number one priority."
"I urge you to use at least half of any funds made available through changes in the Food Stamp Program's administrative reimbursement to the states to restore food stamps to the most vulnerable of needy legal immigrants and refugees," wrote Siler. LOGA is the federal public policy advocacy office of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Studies indicate that about 800,000 people lost benefits and about $3 billion is needed to restore food stamps to all qualified legal immigrants. President Clinton's proposed budget includes the restoration of some food stamp benefits over a five-year period. Families with children, people who are elderly or have disabilities, and refugees are likely to be a priority, said Kay A. Bengston, LOGA's assistant director for public policy advocacy.
"We realize that the funding available is only a down payment on the need, but the issue has become critical to many individuals," wrote Siler. "For some, it has become not only a matter of choosing among paying for housing, food and prescriptions, but literally it has become a matter of life and death."
"More than half of the clients surveyed by our Lutheran Social Ministry Organizations in California and Texas indicated that within a 30-day period either themselves or a family member had gone without food for a day or more because of the lack of resources. This survey was conducted prior to the September cutoff of food stamps to legal immigrants. We imagine the situation to be even worse today," Siler wrote.
"We will continue to do our part; however, such increased hunger in a land of plenty is not acceptable," he added. "Regardless of their citizenship, all human beings are equally entitled to what they need to live in meaningful relation to God and neighbor."
For information contact:
Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
