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Call to Action: July 26, 2018

DAYS UNTIL MID-TERM BALLOTS WILL BE MAILED: 83

DAYS UNTIL MID-TERM BALLOTS ARE DUE: 103

SAVE PEOPLE FROM HUNGER

SAVE SNAP

Feeding people is a non-negotiable part of any humane society. Trump’s damaging economic policies will make the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) even more important in the months ahead:

  • Wages were supposed to rise under the 2017 tax scam. Instead, they fell
  • Trump’s trade wars will wipe out any long-term tax benefits the tax scam’s champions promised to working people

The House and Senate are preparing for a conference on the Farm Bill.  The House passed work requirements and tighter eligibility rules for SNAP recipients, risking nutritional support for thousands. The Senate set no work restrictions and expanded pilot job training programs. The fight for the final version is in progress.

SNAP is not the only program in danger. Downward wage and tax revenue spirals make programs like Medicare and Social Security more vulnerable:

  • Medicare runs out in eight years — three years earlier than predicted
  • Social Security runs out of funds to pay 100% of benefits sooner than expected

Defend the Safety Net!

No Work Requirements for SNAP!

**ACTION ONE: CALL OUR SENATORS**

SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR WYDEN AND MERKLEY:
“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent and voter from [city], Oregon [zip code]. Please tell the Senator to work with conferees to 1) oppose the House-passed work requirements along with other restrictions that will make accessing SNAP benefits difficult, and 2) keep the Senate-passed expanded funding for SNAP employment and training programs. Thank you.”
SENATOR RON WYDEN 
Portland: (503) 326-7525, DC: (202) 224-5244
Salem: (503) 589-4555, Eugene: (541) 431-0229
Medford: (541) 858-5122, Bend: (541) 330-9142
La Grande: (541) 960-7691
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/contact/

SENATOR JEFF MERKLEY 
Portland: (503) 326-3386, DC: (202) 224-3753
Salem: (503) 362-8102, Eugene: (541) 465-6750
Medford: (541) 608-9102, Bend: (541) 318-1298
Pendleton: (541) 278-1129
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/contact/

**ACTION TWO: CALL COMPLICIT GREG WALDEN**

“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent and voter from [city], Oregon [zip code]. Please tell Mr. Walden that I was extremely disappointed that he voted to support the House Farm Bill. I ask that he reconsider his position, put People Before Party, and work with conferees to 1) oppose the House-passed work requirements along with other restrictions that will make accessing SNAP benefits difficult, and 2) keep the Senate-passed expanded funding for SNAP employment and training programs. Thank you.”
COMPLICIT GREG WALDEN
DC (202) 225-6730, Medford: (541) 776-4646,
Bend (541) 389-4408, La Grande (541) 624-2400
https://walden.house.gov/contact-greg/email-me

**ACTION THREE: REMEMBER FOR THE MIDTERMS**

It has become clear that we need a different Congress to protect our safety net.

2018 is the most important election in our lifetimes. 

SOURCES: