Catholic Charities USA decries Senate Budget Reconciliation Bill as vital programs for low-income families, elderly, disabled are slashed

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Dec. 21 /U.S. Newswire/2004 -- "Congress has turned its back on our nation's poor and vulnerable by slashing programs vital to the health and well-being of our children, fragile families, the elderly, and disabled adults," Rev. Larry Snyder, president of Catholic Charities USA, said today in reaction to the Senate's passage of a budget bill, which was approved by the House earlier this week.

"This measure, with its harsh budget and program changes, is certain to have long-term, harmful effects on countless families across our nation."

By a vote of 51-50, with Vice President Dick Cheney breaking a tie, the U.S. Senate earlier today passed a budget reconciliation conference report that contains drastic cuts and program changes to programs such as Medicaid, child support enforcement, child welfare, and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.

"Our Catholic tradition teaches us that society, acting through government, has a special obligation to consider first the needs of the poor, yet these budget cuts put a disproportionate burden on the poor - those that can least afford it," said Fr. Snyder. "Sadly, Congress has not met its obligation."

These drastic cuts come at a time when increasing numbers of working families, seniors, and disabled adults are seeking assistance from local Catholic Charities. At recent survey conducted by Catholic Charities USA of more than 70 local Catholic Charities found that the nation's most vulnerable populations - the working poor, homeless and seniors - increasingly need financial assistance to pay for basic commodities such as food, housing and utilities.

Major survey findings on the growing need for help include: 81 percent of agencies report an increase in the need from the working poor; 64 percent cite an increase in the number of families seeking help; 52 percent are seeing more seniors in need; and 49 percent are seeing more homeless seeking help.

"Trapped at the bottom of the labor market, thousands of families are unable to meet their basic needs. Consequently, they turn to our agencies to fill in where their budgets fall short - one month it may be food, the next they may seek prescription co-pay assistance, and still another month they may turn to an agency for shelter," said Fr. Larry. "This budget will only make their situation more dire."

According to the CCUSA survey, areas of service with significant increases in 2005 in the number of requests for help include:

-- 82 percent of Catholic Charities agencies have experienced an increase in requests for financial assistance;

-- 69 percent of agencies found an increase in requests for aid in making rent or mortgage payments;

-- 59 percent of agencies reported an increase in the need for food;

-- 48 percent cited an increase in the need for temporary housing; and

-- 39 percent reported an increase in the need for prescription assistance.

Because of technical changes made by the Senate, the bill now goes back to the House for consideration when it returns.