An Overview www.bread.org/lobbyday
#breadrising

Matt Newell-Ching
Deputy Director of Organizing
Western Region www.bread.org

“The reality is that in order to break free from the bondage [of poverty] in this country and the world, we need elected officials to make good on their words and put love thy neighbor at the center of our legislative agenda.”
-Derick Dailey www.bread.org
#breadrising

Today’s Agenda
• Lobby Day Basics
• Issues
– The Farm Bill
– Sequestration
• Resources
• What Comes Next?
www.bread.org
#breadrising

Lobby Day Basics

Lobby visits constituents
Individual postal letters
Individualized emails
20%
19%
46%
70%
69%
51%
Phone Calls 14%
Form postal letters
1% 53%
72%
Form e-mails
1% 50%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
A Lot of Influence Some Influence
Source: Congressional Management Foundation, 2011

Mead
Center
U.S. Capitol www.bread.org
#breadrising
Lobby Day
8 am – 12:30 pm
Mead Center
• Breakfast/Registration
• Worship
• Issues Briefing
• State Caucusing (Lunch)
• Depart for Senate

Mead
Center
Shuttle
Dropoff
U.S. Capitol
Senate
Buildings
House
Buildings www.bread.org
#breadrising
Lobby Day
1 pm – 5 pm
Lobby Visits
• 1 – 3 pm (Senate)
• 3 – 5 pm (House)
Transportation alternatives will be provided for people with limited mobility

House
Buildings www.bread.org
#breadrising
Lobby Day
5:30 – 8 pm
Canon House
Office Building
• Reception
• Closing Worship

www.bread.org
#breadrising

Issue 1:
Protect SNAP and Reform Food Aid in the Farm Bill

Christine Meléndez Ashley
Policy Analyst www.bread.org

www.bread.org
#breadrising

www.bread.org
#breadrising
• Governs farm and food policy – including SNAP & international food aid
• Considered every 5 – 6 years
• Must be passed by both the
House and Senate
• Unique budget climate means…

www.bread.org
#breadrising

The Senate
• On the Senate floor
• $4 billion cut to SNAP
• Reforms plus increases funding for Local and
Regional Procurement program www.bread.org
#breadrising

www.bread.org
#breadrising
The House
• Will be on the floor in June
• $20 billion cut to SNAP
• $2.5 billion cut to food aid
& 78% cut to food aid quality programs

www.bread.org
#breadrising
• Protect & strengthen SNAP
• Protect & improve food aid

ISSUE 2:
Replace “Sequestration”

Amelia Kegan
Senior Policy Analyst www.bread.org

• Automatic cuts: half defense, half non-defense
• Tool to force a budget deal
• Purposefully painful
• Cuts began March 1 and last 9 years www.bread.org
#breadrising

Now is not the problem. www.bread.org
#breadrising
Tomorrow is the problem.

Replace with a balanced budget plan
• Revenues
• Entitlements www.bread.org
#breadrising

Fuel the fire
Build the pressure www.bread.org
#breadrising

Stories!!!
www.bread.org
#breadrising

What Comes Next

Additional Resources: www.bread.org/lobbyday www.bread.org
#breadrising

I am prepared to take the long, hard road, knowing it may not happen today or tomorrow, but ultimately, eventually, it will happen. That’s what faith is all about. That’s the definition of commitment – patience and persistence. People who are like fireworks, popping off right and left with lots of sound and sizzle, can capture a crowd, capture a lot of attention for a time, but I always have to ask, where will they be in the end? Some battles are long and hard, and you have to have staying power. Firecrackers go off in a flash, then leave nothing but ashes. I prefer a pilot light – the flame is nothing flashy, but once it is lit, it doesn’t go out. It burns steadily, and it burns forever.
-Rep. John Lewis
Walking With the Wind

Possible Next Steps
• Contact House hill staff during
Farm Bill debate
• Organize a lobby visit in a local office
• Brainstorm with your regional organizer www.bread.org

www.bread.org/contact www.bread.org
#breadrising

www.bread.org/lobbyday
#breadrising