Support the National Housing Trust Fund

Background
On Wednesday, October 10, the House of Representatives will vote on H.R. 2895, the National Affordable Housing Trust Fund Act of 2007. The bill would establish a source of funds dedicated to the development, rehabilitation, and preservation of 1.5 million units of decent, safe, and affordable housing for low-income families over the next 10 years. This is the first new housing production program since 1990 and the only one focused on housing for those with the lowest incomes.

Housing trust funds provide a sustained source of public revenue to support the creation and preservation of affordable housing. Trust funds support a variety of housing activities for low and very low-income households, including new construction, preservation of existing housing, emergency repairs and homeless shelters. More than 250 state and local housing trust funds have produced hundreds of thousands of units of housing across the country. The establishment of the National Affordable Housing Trust Fund would be a big step toward eliminating America’s affordable housing crisis.

Take Action
In emails, faxes, and phone calls, please contact your Representative and urge him or her to support the National Affordable Housing Trust Fund Act of 2007 (H.R. 2895). The Capitol Switchboard can be reached at 202.224.3121. You can also send an e-mail by entering your zip code.

For more information, please contact Legislative Assistant Ben Weyl at 202.387.2800.

Please consider opportunities to support these and other critical issues.

Support America’s Food Stamp Programs

Background
The Senate Agricultural Committee will soon debate and vote on a reauthorization of the Farm Bill, which will determine whether vital nutrition programs are funded at a level that will help millions of Americans who face hunger. In late July, the House of Representatives passed the Farm Bill Extension Act of 2007 (H.R. 2419), which would provide $4 billion to nutrition programs over five years, enabling an expansion of the Food Stamp Program and increased spending for The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). The bill has stalled in the Senate over disagreements about funding priorities and funding for nutrition programs is in danger of being cut or eliminated. It is essential that programs to combat hunger get the support they deserve.

Take Action
In emails, faxes, and phone calls, please contact your Senators and urge them to encourage Agriculture Committee Chairman Sen. Harkin (D-IA) and Senate Majority Leader Reid (D-NV) to maintain a strong nutrition title in the Farm Bill. The Capitol Switchboard can be reached at 202.224.3121. You can also send an e-mail by entering your zip code.

For more information, please contact Legislative Assistant Ben Weyl at 202.387.2800.

Please consider opportunities to support these and other critical issues.

Ensure Children's Health Care!

Background
On October 18th, the House is scheduled to vote to override President Bush’s veto of the reauthorization and expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). House supporters of the SCHIP legislation are currently attempting to gather support from approximately 20 more representatives who will vote to override the President’s veto. The State Children's Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP), created in 1997, is a source of funding for state initiatives to provide health insurance for more than four million uninsured children whose families' income disqualifies them from Medicaid but is insufficient to provide for private insurance. For most states, S-CHIP guarantees health coverage for children in families whose income is below 200 percent of the federal poverty line or $33,600 for a family of three although some states, through the flexibility of the program, have been able to expand S-CHIP to cover less poverty-stricken populations. Unfortunately, not all children who qualify for S-CHIP receive the benefit: 6 million of the 9 million children who are uninsured in this country qualify for S-CHIP but do not receive the benefit. S-CHIP is a crucial program, providing access to quality, affordable life-saving and preventative care.

Take Action
In emails, faxes, and phone calls, please contact your Representative and Senators and ask them to vote to override the Presidential veto of the S-CHIP reauthorization bill. The Capitol Switchboard can be reached at 202.224.3121. You can also send an e-mail by entering your Zip Code.

For more information, please contact Legislative Assistant Jessica Weiser at 202.387.2800.

Please consider opportunities to support these and other critical issues.