October 2013 national conf call final

National Grassroots Conference Call

and WebinarOctober 15, 2013

A collective Christian voice urging our nation's leaders to end hunger at home and abroad.

#BreadWeb

National Grassroots Conference Call and Webinar: Opening Welcome

Questions: [email protected] or @bread4theworld on Twitter #breadweb

LaVida Davis

Director, Organizing & Grassroots Capacity

National Grassroots Conference Call and Webinar: Opening Prayer


Zach Schmidt

Regional Organizer, Chicago, IL

National Grassroots Conference Call and Webinar: Update from the Field


Beatty Brasch

Bread Activist, Lincoln, NE

National Grassroots Conference Call and Webinar: Update from the Field


Kristin Ostrom

Bread Activist, Lincoln, NE

National Grassroots Conference Call and Webinar: White House Speaker!


Paulette Aniskoff

Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of the Office of Public Engagement

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/author/Paulette%20Aniskoff

National Grassroots Conference Call and Webinar: Policy Update


National Grassroots Conference Call and Webinar: Housekeeping


October is going to be a busy Month

1. Farm Bill negotiations

2. Major Budget battles

3. Immigration Reform

National Grassroots Conference Call and Webinar: Farm Bill


Christine Melendez Ashley

Policy analyst, domestic nutrition



Passed 66-27 and included:

$4.1 billion in SNAP cuts Some improvements to food aid

Appointed conferees, 7 D’s and 5 R’s

Senate

• Cochran (R-MS)• Roberts (R-KS)• Chambliss (R-GA)• Boozman (R-AR)• Hoeven (R-ND)



• Attempt #1: cut $20 billion from SNAP and over $2.5 billion from international food aid. FAILED 195-234

• Attempt #2: “Farm only” farm bill. PASSED 216-208

• Attempt #3: “Nutrition only” bill. PASSED 217-210

• Nearly 4 million people off the program

• 210,000 children lose free school meals

• Reduced benefits for 850,000 households

House



Appointed conferees, 17 R’s and 12 D’s • Southerland (R-FL)

• Lucas (R-OK)• King (R-IA)• Neugebauer (R-TX)• Roger (R-AL)• Conway (R-TX)• Thompson (R-PA)• Scott (R-GA)• Crawford (R-AR)• Roby (R-AL)• Noem (R-SD)• Denham (R-CA)• Davis (R-IL)• Royce (R-CA)• Marino (R-PA)• Camp (R-MI)• Johnson (R-TX)

The House Conferees…

• Fudge (D-OH• Peterson (D-MN)• McIntyre (D-NC)• Costa (D- CA)• Walz (D-MN)• Schrader (D-OR)• McGovern (D-MA)• DelBene (D-WA)• Vela (D-TX)• Negrete (D-CA)• Engel (D-NY)• Levin (D-MI)



• Current farm law expired Sept. 30

• Conference committee?

• Extension?

• Budget negotiations?

Next Steps



• Oppose cuts to SNAP in any final farm bill

• On Nov. 1, all SNAP households will already see their monthly benefits reduced – whether or not Congress is able to pass a farm bill

• Support Senate improvements to international food aid

Message



Questions for Christine?

National Grassroots Conference Call and Webinar


Amelia Kegan

Senior policy analyst, budget

National Grassroots Conference Call and Webinar: Budget


Budget negotiations



At Issue

• Opening the government

• U.S. default

• Sequestration cuts

• Funding the government for the rest of FY 2014

• Taxes and entitlements

• Health care reform



A deal forming

• Funds the government through January 15

• Extends debt ceiling to February 7

• Budget conference to address sequestration and larger budget issues

• Small health care changes (reinsurance tax delay & income verification)

National Grassroots Conference Call and Webinar: Message


• Government shutdown and U.S. default are not bargaining chips

• Pass a budget that adequately fund programs serving poor and vulnerable populations

• Replace sequestration with a balanced plan that includes revenues and responsible spending cuts

Our Message

National Grassroots Conference Call and Webinar: Immigration


• The House Judiciary and Homeland Security Committees have considered multiple bills.

• House Judiciary Chairman, Bob Goodlatte, has indicated that he would like to bring immigration to the House Floor.

• Conference with the Senate

Immigration



Questions for Amelia?

National Grassroots Conference Call and Webinar: Immigration


• From Oct. 12-20, Christians will be engaging in Pray4Reform events taking place across the nation.

• October through December: Let your representative know you want comprehensive immigration reform.

• Watch for urgent alerts calling for specific actions targeting Congress.

What can you do?



Questions for Amelia?

National Grassroots Conference Call and Webinar


Next Steps

• Biggest takeaway

• Next Call: November 19th, 4pm

October 2013 national conf call final

Technology

Transcript of October 2013 national conf call final