Voters Urge RNC, DNC to Include Ending Hunger in Party Platforms

WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–More than 90,000 voters petitioned the Republican and Democratic
National Committees to include “a commitment to confront and end the
moral crisis of hunger in America” in their platforms at the coming
party conventions.

“Bread for the World has been engaging its members and another 14
million voters in 12 swing states to ensure that ending hunger is a top
issue during this election,” wrote Rev. David Beckmann, president of
Bread for the World, in a letter to the parties’ committees. “We are
moved by God’s grace in Jesus Christ to work for justice for hungry
people in our country and around the world. We want your party and your
candidates to know that we will vote to end hunger.”

Today, more than 48 million Americans suffer from food insecurity. A
recent survey conducted by Bread for the World found that 1 in 3 voters
says they will vote for candidates who promise to make ending hunger one
of their top priorities.

“Over 302,000 Christian voters have signed up to pray that our political
leaders will strengthen programs that ensure our kids, their families,
and the families of nearly 1 million veterans have enough to eat,” added
Beckmann.

The voters’ petitions, delivered late last week to the RNC and DNC, read:

“America should not be a place where our children, veterans, and working
families struggle with hunger. But for 1 in 5 American children, 1 in 4
active duty military families, and 900,000 veterans, not having enough
to eat is a daily reality. Yet we know that churches, government, and
communities working together can end hunger in America.

“So as the national political party conventions approach, I’m calling on
both parties to ensure that the political priorities reflected in their
platforms include a commitment to confront and end the moral crisis of
hunger in America.”

The 2016 Republican National Convention will be held July 18-21 in
Cleveland. The 2016 Democratic National Convention will be held July
25-28 in Philadelphia. Their party platforms for the 2016 elections will
be officially unveiled during the conventions.

Bread for the World (www.bread.org)
is a collective Christian voice urging our nation’s decision makers to
end hunger at home and abroad.

Contacts

Bread for the World
Chris Ford, 520-904-0415
cford@bread.org