Do you have 44 seconds to spare?
We’ve been watching it all day in the office and trust us — you’re
going to want to pass this one along to your friends who don’t mind a
good swipe at the Tea Party.
From Big Oil subsidies to bonuses for bigwigs, the GOP has stuffed some
extra special goodies in the stockings of corporations and the
ultra-wealthy this year, while giving the rest of us a lump of coal. And
don’t get us started on Republicans’ idea of outreach to women.
DCCC Video
| In this week’s address, President Obama says that before Congress leaves for vacation, they should extend unemployment benefits for 1.3 million hardworking Americans who will lose this lifeline at the end of the year. |
Click here to watch this week’s Weekly Address.
| Top Stories |  |
Economic Mobility: On Wednesday, the President spoke about the growing inequality and lack of upward mobility in the United States. “The idea that so many children are born into poverty in the wealthiest nation on Earth is heartbreaking enough,” the President said.
But the idea that a child may never be able to escape that poverty because she lacks a decent education or health care, or a community that views her future as their own, that should offend all of us and it should compel us to action. We are a better country than this.
The President called reversing this lack of upward mobility the defining challenge of our time and said he is driven to expanding opportunity to ensure that if you work hard, you have a chance to get ahead. Click here to read his full remarks.
The passing of Nelson Mandela: Thursday evening President Obama delivered a statement on the passing of former South African President and anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela. “We will not likely see the likes of Nelson Mandela again,” the President said. “So it falls to us as best we can to forward the example that he set: to make decisions guided not by hate, but by love; to never discount the difference that one person can make; to strive for a future that is worthy of his sacrifice.”
White House Youth Summit: The White House held a Youth Summit on Wednesday, where youth leaders from across the country gathered to discuss issues important to their generation, including the Affordable Care Act. They participated in panels and breakout workshops with administration officials, and even had a surprise drop by from the President.
I look around the room and I see a lot of leaders who are going to be leading the charge well into the future on a whole range of issues. Don’t get discouraged. Be persistent. You may get a few gray hairs as a consequence — but I think at the end of the day you’ll think it’s worth it.
Holidays at the White House: Over the weekend, the Official White House Christmas tree was delivered to the White House by a horse-drawn carriage. The 18 1/2-foot high and nearly 11-foot-wide Douglas Fir tree is decorated in honor of military families and displayed in the Blue Room. Another National Christmas tree will be lit tonight at the 91st annual holiday tree lighting ceremony, which features a talented line-up of performers.
On Wednesday, First Lady Michelle Obama welcomed military families to the White House to preview this year’s holiday decor, centered on the theme ‘Gather Around: Stories of the Season.’
The President and First Lady joined a long line of past presidents in celebrating Hanukkah on Thursday. The two Hanukkah receptions included a candle lighting ceremony and a kosher meal.
You can check out more holiday happenings at the White House and find some holiday crafts here.
World AIDS Day: The White House hung a red ribbon from the North Portico on Monday to mark World AIDS Day. The President spoke in South Court auditorium
Between the government shutdown and the rollout of HealthCare.gov, you probably haven’t heard too much about sequestration lately. Unfortunately, these painful and damaging spending cuts are still here, still hurting people across the country, and are about to get a whole lot worse.
Early next year, another round of cuts kicks in on top of the cuts put in place this year. And many agencies won’t be able to use some of the tactics they did this year to blunt some of the impact of the current round of cuts.
Our Center for American Progress colleague outlines in a new report and this video exactly why and how sequester cuts get worse in 2014 unless Congress fixes them.
Click on the graphic and Check it out:
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76% of SNAP recipient households include a child, elderly person, or disabled person.
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76% of SNAP recipient households include a child, elderly person, or disabled person. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), previously known as food stamps, helps over 47 million low-income Americans put food on the table by providing benefits that are timely, targeted, and temporary. Learn how SNAP works and who qualifies for assistance» |
Help Prevent Cuts to Anti-Hunger Programs
On
November 1, 2013, all SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program,
formerly know as food stamps) recipients will see a reduction in their
benefit levels because of legislation passed by the United States
Congress in 2010.
Cuts that will equal 1.9 billion meals no longer available to the
children, seniors, and disabled that rely on their SNAP benefits to help
put food on the table. That is more than half of what the entire
Feeding America network will distribute in the entire year!
You should also know that Congress is considering adding even larger
cuts to SNAP benefit levels and eligibility. Decisions that impact
Americans struggling with hunger in your community and across the
country are being made right now. Use your voice to help prevent these
cuts by telling your members of Congress to protect anti-hunger
programs.
Tell Congress to protect anti-hunger programs
Meet Jim, Real Stories of SNAP
For more than 40 years, Jim worked as a mechanic. When the economy crashed, business stopped. For rural clients like Jim the challenges of lower levels of education and concentration of low-wage industries can be hard to overcome. Jim knew he needed to apply for SNAP benefits (formerly known as food stamps) when after waiting for a customer payment all day – it simply never arrived. Without a cracker in the house he applied for food assistance and is glad he did. He would have had no other way to eat.
The Farm Bill, which is reauthorized every five years, is the single largest source of federal funding for federal hunger-relief programs. In addition to setting policy for programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), and the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) that put food on the table for Americans struggling with hunger, it covers a range of agriculture-related areas such as commodities, conservation, rural development, livestock, and energy.
In 2012, Congress was unable to pass a Farm Bill. Help us urge Congress to pass a strong Farm Bill that protects and strengthens programs that help Americans struggling with hunger put food on the table. Take Action Today!
Feeding America is actively engaged in protecting federal anti-hunger programs as Congress addresses how to reduce the deficit and balance our nation’s budget, as well as advocating for federal tax provisions that protect food and fund donations to the Feeding America food bank network.
Feeding America is engaged in advocating for a strong federal anti-hunger safety net through the Appropriations process and ensuring programs like TEFAP, CSFP, and WIC have adequate funding to meet the need.
Once Appropriations season heats up, we may need your help to ensure these programs are adequately funded, so stay tuned!
Be a Seed for Change 
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