Catholic Charities USA, the 100-year-old social service network committed to reducing poverty and strengthening families, today released the following statement in response to the passage of the Child Nutrition Bill by the US Senate:
While Catholic Charities USA strongly supports increased funding for improvements to Child Nutrition Programs, we are opposed to cutting funds from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to pay for these new investments. As one of the nation's largest networks of social service providers, we simply cannot pit one program that serves the poor and vulnerable against another program that serves the same population. Cuts to SNAP benefits and programs that help those who are struggling to make ends meet should never be used to pay for other programs, even as a short-term solution. We call on Congress and the Administration to work to identify other funding sources to pay for improvements to Child Nutrition Programs.