November 5, 2005
The Honorable Earl Blumenauer, United States House of Representatives
The Honorable Russ Carnahan, United States House of Representatives
Dear Congressman Blumenauer and Congressman Carnahan:
Beginning Monday, November 7, the House of Representatives is expected to vote on provisions of a budget reconciliation bill that proposes cuts of $54 billion in vital social services for some of the most vulnerable people in America. Families lacking health insurance, abused and neglected children, single mothers trying to collect child support, working families relying on Food Stamps, people with severe disabilities and the poor all face severe cuts in needed programs, reports the United Church of Christ Justice and Witness Ministries.
The Act has been opposed by the National Council of Churches USA and many other religious bodies, including the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism.
Before moving to St. Louis to attend seminary I worked for 17 years on issues of affordable housing and homelessness in Portland and look forward to finding ways to once again become involved with issues of poverty once my family moves back to Oregon in December.
I know that the cuts under consideration will be devastating. Poverty has increased for the last four years in the United States and this legislation will worsen the situation.
I urge both of you – my St. Louis congressman and my (once and future) Portland congressman – to vote against the budget reconciliation bill.
Sincerely,
Chuck Currie
United Church of Christ Seminarian
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