The following information is from Bread for the World. Read their entire fact sheet and call to action here.
Sequestration will implement across-the-board cuts, totaling $1.2 trillion through fiscal year 2021, including a 5.3 percent cut ($85 billion) for the remainder of 2013.
A 5.3 percent cut will reduce poverty-focused development assistance (PFDA) by $1 billion. Some consequences include the following:
- 2.1 million people will experience reductions of or be denied access to lifesaving food aid.
- 234,000 children will experience reductions from or be denied access to school feeding programs administered through the McGovern-Dole program.
- 605,625 fewer children will receive nutritional interventions that save lives and prevent irreversible damage caused by malnutrition.
- 1.17 million fewer farmers and small businesses in poor countries will receive support from Feed the Future, which now helps them improve their sources of income and lift themselves and their communities out of poverty.
Unless Congress acts, the across-the-board cuts triggered by sequestration will harm hungry and poor people in the United States and abroad. But it’s not too late to avoid the worst effects! Call your representative and senators (800-826-3688) and urge them to support programs for hungry and poor people.
