Photo left to right: Rev. Trish Decker and Rev. Russ Melby, Ann Houlahan, Senator Grassley’s staff, Karla Smith and Steve Panther, Senator Ernst’s staff, Rev. Eric Hanson, and Cecilia Roudabush. Cecilia, Ann, and Karla are partners from St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids.
On June 25th, several people from the Southeastern Iowa Synod in partnership with others involved in activism with Bread for the World were able to meet with staff from Senators Chuck Grassley and Senator Joni Ernst’s offices in Cedar Rapids. Their meeting focused on global childhood nutrition, specifically getting children and expecting mothers vital nutrition within the first 1000 days of their lives. As an anti-hunger synod, in 2017, the Southeastern Iowa Synod Assembly passed a resolution to focus on the first 1,000 days of life and the impact proper nutrition plays in development. Learn more about this resolution
The groups from the Southeastern Iowa Synod and Bread for the World asked for both Iowa senators to co-sponsor Senate Resolution 260; The Collins-Coons resolution (S.Res. 260.) They also discussed an increase in the 2020 global health fund’s budget for nutrition from $145 million to $250 million. They were also able to present in-person letters from members of congregations asking them to support S.Res. 260.
On June 24th, S. Res 260 was referred to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and is still under consideration in Congress. You can help ensure that more children and mothers receive adequate nutrition during their first 1,000 days. Ask congress to act on this S. Res 260 and its counterpart in the house of representatives, H. Res 189. Write your representatives through the Bread for the World website.
