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Hunger and the U.S. Budget

By Bread for the World April, 17, 2011 11:37:00

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Major Consequences for hungry and poor people

Members of Congress are currently debating budget bills and deficit reduction proposals that will have major consequences for hungry and poor people.

The current discussion centers on the fiscal year (FY) 2011 budget. The government’s fiscal year runs from October 1 to the following September 30.

The debate can be confusing—how can we cut through the rhetoric and decide who’s right about which budget decisions?

This section will guide you through:

The budget process
The budget timeline
Myths and realities surrounding the budget, and
The implications of H.R. 1: Full Year Continuing Appropriations Act 2011, a bill the House of Representatives passed in February 2011.

H.R. 1 is an appropriations bill that targets non-security spending for deep cuts during the remainder of fiscal year 2011.

Those cuts would have disastrous consequences for hungry and poor people in the United States and around the world, which is why Bread for the World and its partners are forming a circle of protection around them.

The Budget Process

The federal budget runs on a fiscal year (FY) rather than a calendar year schedule. Fiscal years start before their corresponding calendar years, running from October 1 of the preceding year through September 30.

Budget Timeline

Track how the fiscal year 2011 budget has moved through Congress.

The U.S. Budget: Myths and Realities

Sort fact from fiction in these six myths about the U.S. budget.

H.R. 1: Full Year Continuing Appropriations Act 2011

What is H.R. 1 and how would its passage affect hungry and poor people in the United States and abroad?

Take Action

Urge members of Congress not to cut programs for hungry and poor people as they work to reduce the deficit.

Call your senators at 1-800-826-3688 by noon on April 8, 2011.

Ask them to protect funding for low-income programs in the United States and for foreign assistance that is focused on reducing poverty.

The U.S. Budget: Myths and Realities

Myth: We can balance the budget by cutting the funding that Congress approves in spending bills each fiscal year (which runs from October 1 to September 30).

Reality: Cuts to non-security discretionary spending—the non-military portion of the funding Congress must renew each year by passing appropriations bills—cannot solve the deficit problem.

Keeping in mind a few realities enables us, as advocates for hungry and poor people, to explain our budget priorities to decision makers and to respond when we hear common myths.