Congressman Rush Holt (D-12) was joined by social service leaders from The Crisis Ministry of Princeton and Trenton, the New Jersey Anti-Hunger Coalition, and the Community FoodBank of New Jersey in a teleconference focusing on the passage by the House of Representatives of a bill that will eliminate a $1.7 billion social services block grant (SSBG) while preserving military spending.

“It is incomprehensible that the Republican majority would further shred our safety net in order to cut taxes on millionaires and preserve a bloated Defense Department budget,” Mr. Holt observed.

“Food is the most basic element needed to survive and work,” said Community FoodBank of New Jersey Director of Advocacy Diane Riley. “The money they’re getting now doesn’t cover what they need, but it’s something. And they’re talking about cutting that. That’s beyond foolish.”

Some 23 million people, including children, seniors, and the disabled, stand to lose health care coverage, food and nutrition assistance, midday meals, child care assistance, foster care, substance abuse rehabilitation, and juvenile justice services. With its passage by the House, the bill now goes to the U.S. Senate for further consideration.

“The majority is running the show here,” said Mr. Holt. “This ‘reconciliation budget‘ will end Medicare as we know it, slash research and education, and give huge tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans.”

“Over the past ten years, The Crisis Ministry of Princeton and Trenton has received more than $130,000 from SSBG and has stabilized the housing of more than 350 families,” reported Crisis Ministry of Princeton and Trenton Executive Director Carolyn Biondi. “We are the end of the line for these folks.”

“Clients are paying roughly 60 percent of their income on housing, so there’s very little left over,” said Ms. Biondi. “Food stamps are often not enough for vulnerable families, so they end up at the Pantry.”

“The Community FoodBank of New Jersey has seen an unprecedented 46 percent rise in the number of people in need of food assistance since the recession began,” noted Ms. Riley. “The Food Stamp program has long been a front line of defense in the alleviation of hunger and poverty.”

Ms. Riley cited “the debate about whether people really need these benefits, or if they are ripping off the system by taking them — as if they were slipping into the system to get a little bit of luxury.”

“Late last year, I joined hunger advocates to shop for a week’s worth of food with the average Food Stamp benefit for $31.50,” Rep. Holt commented. “Trying to eat for seven days on that budget drove home, in a profound and troubling way, the fragility of America’s social safety net.”

“Now is the wrong time to ignore pleas for help across central New Jersey and our country while padding the pockets of the fortunate,” he added. “Make no mistake: these cuts would increase hardship in New Jersey and set back our economic recovery at a time when too many families continue to struggle.”