Happening Now

Letter to Congress on FY 2025 Agriculture Appropriations Legislation
Archbishop Borys Gudziak, Bishop A. Elias Zaidan, Ms. Kerry Alys Robinson, Mr. Sean Callahan, Mr. James Ennis, and Mr. John Berry, June 10, 2024

Letter to Congress Regarding the Farm Bill: Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act and Farm, Food, and National Security Act
Archbishop Borys Gudziak, Bishop A. Elias Zaidan, Ms. Kerry Alys Robinson, Mr. James Ennis, Mr. Sean Callahan, Mr. John Barry, May 22, 2024

Letter to Congress on Including Puerto Rico in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
November 9, 2023

Letter to Congress on RESTORE Act
Archbishop Borys Gudziak, Mr. Ralph Middlecamp, Sr. Donna Markham, and Ms. Karen Clifton, June 9, 2023

Letters to Congress Concerning the FY 2024 Agriculture Appropriations Legislation
Archbishop Borys Gudziak, Bishop David J. Malloy, Mr. Anthony Granado, Mr. Sean Callahan, and Mr. James Ennis, June  8, 2023

Food Security, Agriculture and Rural Development

Background Information

2021-Present

Letter to Congress on FY 2025 Agriculture Appropriations Legislation
Archbishop Borys Gudziak, Bishop A. Elias Zaidan, Ms. Kerry Alys Robinson, Mr. Sean Callahan, Mr. James Ennis, and Mr. John Berry, June 10, 2024

Letter to Congress on Including Puerto Rico in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
November 9, 2023

Letter to Congress on RESTORE Act
Archbishop Borys Gudziak, Mr. Ralph Middlecamp, Sr. Donna Markham, and Ms. Karen Clifton, June 9, 2023

Letters to Congress Concerning the FY 2024 Agriculture Appropriations Legislation
Archbishop Borys Gudziak, Bishop David J. Malloy, Mr. Anthony Granado, Mr. Sean Callahan, and Mr. James Ennis, June 8, 2023

Letters to Congress Regarding FY 2023 Agriculture Appropriations Legislation
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, Bishop David J. Malloy, Sr. Donna Markham, Mr. Sean Callahan, and Mr. James Ennis, June 8, 2022

Bishop Chairman Welcomes Update to USDA Benefit Addressing Hunger
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, August 21, 2021 

Letter to Congress Regarding FY 2022 Agriculture Appropriations
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, Bishop David J. Malloy, Sr. Donna Markham, Mr. Sean Callahan, and Mr. James Ennis, July 12, 2021

U.S. Bishop Chairman Grateful for Administration’s Early Actions to Address Urgent Food and Housing Needs
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, January 27, 2021

2016-2020

Letter to Congress Regarding FY 2021 Agriculture Appropriations Legislation
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, Bishop David J. Malloy, Sr. Donna Markham, Mr. Sean Callahan, and Mr. James Ennis, June 15, 2020

Letter to Congress on FY2020 Agriculture Appropriations
Bishop Frank J. Dewane, Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, Sr. Donna Markham, Mr. Sean Callahan, Mr. James Ennis, April 25, 2019

Letter to U.S. Senate on Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018
Bishop Frank J. Dewane, Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, Mr. Sean Callahan, Sr. Donna Markham, Mr. James Ennis, Mr. Ralph Middlecamp, June 28, 2018

Letter to the U.S. House of Representatives Regarding the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018
Bishop Frank J. Dewane, Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, Mr. Sean Callahan, Sr. Donna Markham, Mr. James Ennis, Mr. Ralph Middlecamp, April 18, 2018

2010-2015

Letter to U.S. House of Representatives Urging Opposition to SNAP Cuts
Bishop Stephen E. Blaire, September 11, 2013

Letter to U.S. House of Representatives Urging Protection of Food Stamps
Bishop Stephen E. Blaire, July 10, 2013

Letter to U.S. Senate on FY 2013 Agriculture and International and Domestic Food Security
Bishop Stephen E. Blaire and Bishop Richard E. Pates, April 16, 2012

Letter to U.S. House of Representatives Concerning Cuts to Food Stamps
Bishop Stephen E. Blaire, April 16, 2012

Letter to Congress on Agriculture Appropriations 
Bishop Stephen E. Blaire and Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, October 20, 2011

Prior to 2010

Letter to Congress on the Hunger-Free Communities Act
Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, April 13, 2006

Letter to McDonald's on Florida Tomato Harvesters
Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, September 28, 2006

Letter to U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee on Budget Reconciliation Process
Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, Br. David G. Andrews, Ken Hackett, October 5, 2005

Letter to U.S. Senate on FY 2006 Agriculture Appropriations
Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop John H. Ricard, September 20, 2005

Letter to Senator Grassley on Agricultural Subsidies
Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio and Bishop John H. Ricard, April 1, 2005

2006 Budget Reconciliation: A Challenge and an Opportunity

The Farm Bill: Principles and Priorities

Current Advocacy Position

The U.S. Bishops declared that "the primary goals of agricultural policies should be providing food for all people and reducing poverty among farmers and farmworkers in this country and abroad." (For I Was Hungry and You Gave Me Food: Catholic Reflections on Food, Farmers and Farmworkers).

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Catholic Rural Life (CRL), Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA),  Catholic Relief Services (CRS), and the U.S. Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVDPUSA) have worked closely to support policies in the Farm Bill that support rural communities and family farms; strengthen and protect domestic anti-hunger programs; promote conservation and good stewardship of the land; and provide food security aid efficiently and effectively to hungry people worldwide.

Food Security and the Farm Bill

2024

Letter to Congress Regarding the Farm Bill: Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act and Farm, Food, and National Security Act
Archbishop Borys Gudziak, Bishop A. Elias Zaidan, Ms. Kerry Alys Robinson, Mr. James Ennis, Mr. Sean Callahan, Mr. John Barry, May 22, 2024

2023

Letter to Congress on Including Puerto Rico in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) November 9, 2023 

Letter to Congress on RESTORE Act
Archbishop Borys Gudziak, Mr. Ralph Middlecamp, Sr. Donna Markham, and Ms. Karen Clifton, June 9, 2023

Letter to Congress Regarding the Trillion Trees and Natural Carbon Storage Act
Archbishop Borys Gudziak and Bishop David J. Malloy, May 16, 2023

Letter to Congress Regarding 2023 Farm Bill
Archbishop Borys Gudziak, Bishop David J. Malloy, Mr. Sean Callahan, Sr. Donna Markham, Mr. James Ennis, and Mr. Ralph Middlecamp, April 24, 2023

 

2018

Letter to U.S. House of Representatives Praising Bipartisan, Compromise Farm Bill and Farm Bill Conference Committee Report
Bishop Frank J. Dewane, Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, Mr. Sean Callahan, Sr. Donna Markham, Mr. James Ennis, Mr Ralph Middlecamp
December 12, 2018

Letter to U.S. Senate on Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018
Bishop Frank J. Dewane, Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, Mr. Sean Callahan, Sr. Donna Markham, Mr. James Ennis, Mr Ralph Middlecamp
June 28, 2018

Letter to U.S. House of Representatives Sent in Response to Chairman's Mark of the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018
Bishop Frank J. Dewane, Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, Mr. Sean Callahan, Sr. Donna Markham, Mr. James Ennis, Mr Ralph Middlecamp
April 18, 2018

Letter to Congress Regarding 2018 Farm Bill
Bishop Frank J. Dewane, Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, Mr. Sean Callahan, Sr. Donna Markham, Mr. James Ennis, Mr Ralph Middlecamp
February 5, 2018

2013-2014

USCCB and National Catholic Partners Respond to Farm Bill Conference Committee Bill 
January 29, 2014

Letter to U.S. Senate on FY 2013 Farm Bill
Bishop Stephen E. Blaire, Bishop Richard E. Pates, Fr. Larry Snyder, Dr. Carolyn Woo, Mr. James Ennis, and Ms. Sheila Gilbert, November 1, 2013

Letter to U.S. House of Representatives on FY 2013 Farm Bill
Bishop Stephen E. Blaire, Bishop Richard E. Pates, Fr. Larry Snyder, Dr. Carolyn Woo, Mr. James Ennis, and Ms. Sheila Gilbert, November 1, 2013

Letter to U.S. House of Representatives Urging Opposition to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Cuts
Bishop Stephen E. Blaire, September 11, 2013

Letter to U.S. House of Representatives Urging Protection of Food Stamps
Bishop Stephen E. Blaire, July 10, 2013

Letter to U.S. House of Representatives on the Farm Bill 
Bishop Stephen Blaire, Bishop Richard Pates, Rev. Larry Snyder, Dr. Carolyn Woo, Mr. James Ennis, and Ms. Sheila Gilbert, June 17, 2013

Letter to U.S. Senate Regarding the Farm Bill
Bishop Stephen Blaire, Bishop Richard Pates, Rev. Larry Snyder, Dr. Carolyn Woo, Mr. James Ennis, May 9, 2013

Letter to U.S. House of Representatives Regarding the Farm Bill
Bishop Stephen Blaire, Bishop Richard Pates, Rev. Larry Snyder, Dr. Carolyn Woo, Mr. James Ennis, May 9, 2013

2012

Letter to U.S. House of Representatives Regarding Proposed Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act and the Farm Bill
Bishop Stephen Blaire, Bishop Richard Pates, Dr. Carolyn Woo, Mr. James Ennis, July 10, 2012

Testimony for the Record Submitted to U.S. House of Representatives: Formulation of 2012 Farm Bill-Commodity Programs and Crop Insurance
USCCB, Catholic Relief Services, National Catholic Rural Life Conference, May 17, 2012

Letter to U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture Concerning Cuts to Food Stamps
Bishop Stephen E. Blaire, April 16, 2012

Testimony for the Record Submitted to U.S. Senate: Risk Management and Commodities in the 2012 Farm Bill
USCCB, Catholic Relief Services, National Catholic Rural Life Conference, March 14, 2012

Letter to U.S. Senate on the Farm Bill
Bishop Stephen E. Blaire, Bishop Richard E. Pates, Rev. Larry Snyder, Dr. Carolyn Y. Woo, Mr. James F. Ennis, March 6, 2012

Prior to 2012

Letter to U.S. Senate on Child Nutrition and WIC Re-authorization Act
Bishop William F. Murphy, Most Rev. Thomas J. Curry, Rev. Larry Snyder, Sr. Dale McDonald, James Ennis, May 11, 2009

Letter to Congress on Reauthorization of the 2008 Farm Bill
Bishop Thomas G. Wenski, Mr. Jim Ennis, Mr. Ken Hackett, May 12, 2008

Letter to Congress Regarding FY 2008 Farm Bill
Bishop William Murphy, Bishop Thomas Wenski, Rev. Larry Snyder, Timothy Kautza, Ken Hackett, February 21, 2008

Letter to U.S. Senate on FY 2007 Farm Bill
Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop Thomas G. Wenski, Rev. Larry Snyder, Bishop Ronald M. Gilmore, Ken Hackett, November 6, 2007

Letter to U.S. Senate on FY 2007 Farm Bill 
Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop Thomas G. Wenski, Rev. Larry Snyder, Timothy J. Kautza, Ken Hackett, October 4, 2007

Letter to U.S. House of Representatives Regarding the Farm Bill
Bishop Thomas Wenski, July 26, 2007

Letter to U.S. House of Representatives Regarding Farm Subsidies 
Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, Rev. Larry Snyder, Timothy Kautza, Ken Hackett, June 15, 2007

Letter to U.S. House of Representatives Regarding Nutrition Programs
Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, Rev. Larry Snyder, Timothy Kautza, Ken Hackett, June 14, 2007

Letter to U.S. House of Representatives on Farm Bill
Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, Rev. Larry Snyder, Br. David Andrews, Ken Hackett, June 6, 2007

Letter to U.S. House of Representatives on Conservation Initiatives in the Farm Bill
Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, Rev. Larry Snyder, Br. David Andrews, Ken Hackett, May 23, 2007

Statement on the Farm Bill
Religious Working Group, January 19, 2007