U.S. Representatives Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and Marcia Fudge (D-OH) are circulating a bipartisan “Dear Colleague” letter (see below) in the U.S. House of Representatives urging Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to use his administrative authority to purchase The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) commodities in FY 2012. The deadline to sign on to the letter is March 8 March 14.
Please contact your congressional representatives today and ask them to support our nation’s food banks. Below is the letter and contact information for the representatives in the region served by the Capital Area Food Bank. Find out who represents you and ask him or her to sign the letter.
Dear Colleague:
I invite you to join a bipartisan effort to support our nation’s food banks by sending a letter to Secretary Tom Vilsack urging him to once again use his administrative authority to distribute existing funding for the purchase of The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) commodities in FY2012.
The hunger crisis continues to be a serious problem plaguing this country and our region. With unemployment at 8.5 percent nationally and higher in many parts of the country, the numbers of families struggling to make ends meet have increased significantly. Thirty-seven million people – one in eight Americans – are now receiving emergency food assistance each year through the nation’s food banks. This figure represents a 46 percent increase in the numbers of clients served between 2006 and 2010.
Even though the need continues to increase, food banks are facing the prospect of bare shelves. Through TEFAP, USDA provides food banks with healthy, nutritious, American-grown food commodities. USDA must provide food through TEFAP, so our nation’s food banks can meet the demands for food. By directing existing funds, the Secretary of Agriculture can provide both needed food to the nation’s food banks and additional support to America’s farmers and producers.
U.S. House Representatives
Maryland’s U.S. Representatives
Donna F. Edwards (D-4th)
Capitol Hill Office: 202-225-8699
District Office: 301-562-7960 Montgomery County
301-516-7601 Prince Georges County
Contact via email at 4mdhill@mail.house.gov
Steny H. Hoyer (D-5th)
Capitol Hill Office: 202-225-4131
District Office: 301-474-0119 Prince Georges County
Contact
Chris Van Hollen (D-8th)
Capitol Hill Office 202-225-5341
District Office: Rockville: 301-424-3501
Hyattsville: 301-891-6982
Contact
Virginia’s U.S. Representatives
James P. Moran (D-8th)
Capitol Hill Office: 202-225-4376
District Office: 703-971-4700
Contact
Frank R. Wolf (R-10th)
Capitol Hill Office: 202-225-5136
District Office: 703-709-5800
Contact
Gerry E. Connolly (D-11th)
Capitol Hill Office 202-225-1492
District Office: 703-256-3071
Contact
D.C.’s U.S. Representative
Eleanor Holmes Norton (D)
Capitol Hill Office 202-225-8050
District Office: 202-783-5065 or 202-678-8900
Contact
Thank you for your help! If you have questions please call Brian D. Banks, Director of Public Policy & Community Outreach for the Capital Area Food Bank at 202-526-5344 ext. 295, or send an e-mail to BBanks@CapitalAreaFoodBank.org. If you have time please e-mail advocacy@CapitalAreaFoodBank.org to let us know you made contact with your representative. Thank you!