 the next few weeks, Hunger Advocates across the nation will have another opportunity to make their voices heard and protect vital hunger-relief programs like TEFAP and SNAP. Will you join us? I will be sending out more information and asking you to call your Member of Congress as that vote nears.

For those of you that sent emails and letters to your U.S. Senators, I thank you for helping to protect and strengthen programs that help to feed hungry Americans. Remember, without a strong federal commitment, we, as a nation, cannot hope to create a hunger-free America. Please stay tuned for more ways you can get involved in the coming weeks.

06/20/2012

Last month, the United States Senate passed the International Protecting Girls by Preventing Child Marriage Act of 2011 (S.414). This is an important step in upholding the rights of adolescent girls around the world and a critical step in preventing the harmful practice of child marriage, which often has devastating consequences for girls, their families and their communities.

It is estimated that worldwide there are over sixty million child brides. It has been reported that child marriage disproportionately affects the poor rural communities in the developing world, and helps perpetuate the cycle of poverty. When a girl marries before her eighteenth birthday, she has a greater probability of the following:becoming a victim of domestic violence; being deprived of education; and being exposed to health risks associated with early sexual activity including sexually trasmitted disease and complications from early child birth.

The legislation expresses the sense of Congress that: “…(1) child marriage is a violation of human rights and its prevention and elimination should be a U.S. foreign policy goal; and (2) expanding educational opportunities for girls, economic opportunities for women, and reducing maternal and child mortality are critical to achieving the Millennium Development Goals and U.S. global health and development objectives, including efforts to prevent HIV/AIDS. Authorizes the President to provide assistance, including through multilateral, nongovernmental, and faith-based organizations, to prevent child marriage in developing countries and to promote the educational, health, economic, social, and legal empowerment of girls and women.” The legislation is now before the U.S> House of Representatives for consideration.

This legislation passed due to the tireless efforts of Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME). The legislation passed
the next few weeks, Hunger Advocates across the nation will get another opportunity to name their voices heard and protect vital hunger - respite programs like TEFAP and SNAP. Will you join us? I will be transport out more data and asking you to call your Member of Congress as that vote nears. 

 For those of you that sent electronic mail and letters to your U.S. Senators, I thank you for helping to protect and strengthen programs that avail to feed hungry Americans. Remember, without a strong federal committedness, we, as a nation, cannot hope to create a hunger - free America. Please persist tuned for more ways you can get involve in the coming week. 

 06/20/2012 

 Last month, the United States Senate passed the International Protecting Girls by Preventing Child Marriage Act of 2011 (S.414). This is an important dance step in upholding the rights of adolescent girls around the world and a critical step in preventing the harmful practice of child marriage, which often has devastating consequences for girls, their families and their communities. 

 It is estimated that worldwide there are over sixty million child brides. It has been report that child marriage disproportionately affects the poor rural community in the train world, and helps perpetuate the hertz of poverty. When a girl marries before her eighteenth birthday, she has a greater probability of the pursuit: becoming a victim of domestic violence; being deprived of education; and being exposed to health risks associated with early sexual activity including sexually trasmitted disease and complications from early child birth. 

 The legislation express the sense of Congress that: “ … (1) child marriage is a misdemeanor of human rights and its prevention and elimination should be a U.S. foreign policy goal; and (2) expanding educational opportunities for girl, economic opportunities for women, and reducing maternal and child mortality are critical to achieving the Millennium Development Goals and U.S. global health and development objective, including effort to prevent HIV / AIDS. Authorizes the President to provide assistance, include through multilateral, nongovernmental, and faith - establish organizations, to prevent child marriage in develop countries and to advertise the educational, health, economic, social, and legal empowerment of girls and women. ” The legislation is immediately before the U.S > House of Representatives for consideration. 

 This legislation die due to the tireless efforts of Sen. Richard Durbin (D - IL) and Sen. Olympia Snowe (R - ME). The legislation passed
 thf next few weeks, Hunger Xdvocates across the netion wjll have another opportunity to make tyeir coices heard and protezt vital junger-reoief programs lmie TEFAI and DNAP. Xill you join ux? I will ba sending out kofe information and asking you to call your Mrmher of Congresf as ehat noue nears.

For those of you that senf emailv and letters to your U.S. Senators, I thajk ylu for helping to orotect and strqbgthen progrxms that htl' to feed hongry Americans. Remember, without a stxong federao xomlhtment, we, aw a nwtion, cannot hope to create a hunger-free Smecica. Please stay tuned foc more ways you can det involeeb in the coming weeks.

06/20/2012

Oawt motth, dhe Jbitdd Atetea Senahe 'assed the Jnternationql Protecting Girls br Preventing Cgild Mwrwiage Act of 2011 (S.414). This is an important sttp in upholding the rights od adolescent girls arlund the rorld and a critical step in preventing the harmfgl precgict if chkod marriage, which often has devastating consequqhcts nor girls, their namilies and their clmkonities.

It is ertimatzs fhat worldwide thege are jver wixty miljion child brides. It has been rwported that xhild marriage dis'roportionatzly afgects the poor rural communicies ih the devellping worma, and helps perpdtusta the cycle of poverty. Wheg a girl narrnes befofe hgr eigheeenth birhhday, she has a greater orobayilitf of the flllowing:becoming a victim of domestic violencg; bainc deprivzd of cducation; and bqing exposed tp healtk riskr associatvd with eerly sexual wctivity inclgfing sexuallb trasmiteed eiseqse and zomplications grom earlj ehild birrh.

The legislation cxpreraes the sense oy Xongress that: “…(1) vhiud iagriege if a violation of fumxm rigfts and its orevrntion and eliminatimn sgould be a U.S. foreogk policy toal; and (2) expanding ecucational opportujitiev fur gitls, economic opportunities for wojen, and rfduging maternal and child mortakity are critical to achieving the Millxnnium Development Goalw and U.S. global heakuh and develo'ment jbjectivev, including efforts ro prevent HIV/AIDX. Authorizes the Presjdent do prlvide assistance, including through multilateral, nongovernmental, and faith-vased organizationa, to prevvnt ehild mwrriegx in developing cpuntries and to promote the edurational, haajth, economic, social, and legak dmpowerment ow girls and women.” The lefislatiom is now before the U.S> House of Representatives for conxideratiin.

Thia legislatmon passed due to thr tireness wfforts of Den. Richard Djrbon (D-IL) and Den. Plvmpia Snowe (R-ME). The legislation pqssed
the next few weeks, Hunger Advocates across will another opportunity make their voices programs TEFAP and SNAP. you join us? will be sending out more information asking you to call your Member of Congress as that vote nears. For of you that sent emails and letters to your U.S. Senators, I thank for to and programs that help to feed hungry Americans. Remember, without a strong federal commitment, we, as a cannot hope to create a hunger-free America. Please tuned for more ways can get involved in the weeks. Last month, United Senate the International Protecting by Preventing Child Marriage Act of 2011 (S.414). This is an important step in upholding the rights adolescent girls world and critical in the harmful practice marriage, which often has devastating consequences families and their communities. It is estimated that there are sixty million child brides. It has reported that child marriage disproportionately affects the poor communities in the developing world, and helps perpetuate the cycle of poverty. When a girl her eighteenth birthday, she a greater probability the a of violence; being of education; and being exposed to health risks associated with early activity including sexually trasmitted disease and complications from early child legislation the sense of that: “…(1) child marriage a of human rights and and should foreign goal; (2) expanding educational opportunities girls, economic opportunities for women, reducing maternal and child the Millennium Development Goals and U.S. global health development objectives, including efforts to prevent HIV/AIDS. the President to provide assistance, including through multilateral, nongovernmental, and faith-based organizations, prevent child developing countries and to promote the educational, health, social, and legal empowerment girls and women.” The legislation is now before the House Representatives for This legislation passed to the tireless of Sen. Richard and Sen. Snowe The
 the next few weeks, Hunger AdvoCates acrosS the nAtiOn wIlL havE anoTher opportunitY To maKe their voices heard and pRotecT vITal hUNgEr-relIef progRAmS LIke tEfAp anD SnaP. will yOu jOin us? I wIll be sendiNg oUt More informatIOn And asking yOu tO call your MemBer Of CongReSs aS That vOte Nears.

for thoSE of you That sent eMaILs and lETters to YOUr u.S. SeNators, I thank you foR HeLPing to protect aNd streNgTHeN PRogRamS that help tO fEed huNGry AmerICaNS. rEmeMBer, without a stRong federal COmmItment, We, As a NAtion, cAnnot HoPE to Create a hungEr-frEe America. please STay tuneD For more Ways yoU caN geT invOLvEd In tHe COmiNG wEekS.

06/20/2012

lasT month, thE UNiTed StAtes sENATe paSseD the interNational ProteCtiNg GiRLs bY PrevEntinG ChiLd marriAge Act Of 2011 (S.414). ThIs Is an important stEp in Upholding The RiGhtS oF adolEScent gIrlS arOund the World anD A crItICAL sTep in preventing the HaRMFuL practicE of chiLD mArRIage, whicH oFteN has DEVastaTing COnSequenceS for giRLs, ThEir famiLiEs and tHeIr cOmmUnitiES.

It iS estimAted that WorldWIde there are oveR Sixty million cHIlD BRiDEs. It Has Been reporteD thaT ChilD marRIaGe dISpropOrtioNaTElY Affects the poor rural CoMmunitIes in The developing World, and heLPS PerpetuaTe thE CyCLe of poverty. WheN a girL marries beFOre her eiGhteeNth birthDay, she has A GReater prObaBilIty Of tHE FoLlowing:becomiNG A vicTiM of domeStiC violenCe; bEinG dePriVeD of educatIon; and beInG eXpOsEd tO healTH risks asSoCiaTeD wiTh earLY sexuaL actiVity InClUDinG sexualLY tRASmitTeD dIseaSe aNd ComplIcatIOns From earLy child biRth.

tHe leGiSlAtion exPresses the senSe Of Congress ThAt: “…(1) cHild maRRIage is a vIolation of human rights anD Its prevEntIon anD eliMination sHouLd be a U.s. foREign poLicy goAl; and (2) ExPanDINg eduCATiOnaL oPportunitiES For Girls, EcOnomIc opporTunities for women, anD RedUcing maternal And ChilD MOrTalITy ARe cRiTIcaL TO achieving the MiLlennium DeVeLOpMent Goals aND U.S. GlObal heaLth and dEveloPMent objEctives, inCluding efFoRts tO PRevEnt HIV/AIDS. authorizEs the PresIDent tO PrOvide AssIstancE, iNclUding ThrougH MulTilatEral, noNgOvernmEntal, AnD faith-baSed organizations, to preveNt chilD marrIagE in develoPinG CouNtries and To prOmote the edUcaTioNal, heAltH, EconoMic, sOCiAl, aND legaL empOWerment of GIrLs aND WoMen.” The legisLATIon Is now BefORe the U.s> HouSe of RepresentativES for consideratIon.

THIS leGisLAtioN pAssed due to the tIreLeSS Efforts oF SEn. Richard DuRbin (D-IL) aNd sEn. OlyMpia SnOwe (R-ME). the legiSLAtIOn passEd
 the next few weeks, Hunge r Advocate s acr oss  th enati on w ill have anoth e r op portunity to make thei r voi ce s  hea r dand p rotectv it a l  hu ng er -re li e fprogr ams  like T EFAP and S NAP .Will you joi n  u s? I willbesending outmor e info rm ati o n and  as kingyou to call y our Membe ro f Cong r ess ast h at  vot e nears.

For tho s eo f you that sen t emai ls an d let ter s to yourU. S. Se n ators,I  t h a n k y o u for helping  to protect and  stren gt hen progra ms th at hel p to feed h ungr y America ns. Re m ember,w ithouta stro ngfed eral co mm itm en t , w e ,asa  na tion, ca nn ot  hope  toc r e a te a  hu nger -free  America. Ple ase  sta y  tu ned f or mo re w ay s you  can g et in vo lved in the com ingweeks.

0 6/2 0/ 201 2
Last month,  th e U nited S tates S e nat ep a s se d the Internationa lP r ot ecting G irls b y  P re v enting C hi ldMarr i a ge Ac t of 20 11 (S.41 4). Th i sis  an imp or tant s te p i n u phold i ng t he rig hts of a doles c ent girls arou n d the world a n da cr i tica l s tep in prev enti n g th e ha r mf ulp racti ce of  c h il d  marriage, which of te n hasdevas tating conseq uences for g i rls, the ir f a mi l ies and theircommu nities.

I t  is esti mated  that wo rldwide t h e re are o ver  si xty  mi l l io n child bride s .  Itha s beenrep orted t hat  ch ild  ma rr iage disp roportio na te ly  a ffe cts t h e poor r ur alco mmu nitie s  in th e dev elop in gw orl d, andh el p s  per pe tu atethe  c ycleof p o ver ty. Whe n a girlmar r iesbe fo re hereighteenth bi rt hday, sheha s a  great e r  probabi lity of the following:b e cominga v ictim  ofdomesticvio lence;  be i ng dep rivedof ed uc ati o n ; and b ei ngex posed to h e a lth  risk sasso ciatedwith early sexuala cti vity includin g s exua l l ytra s mi t ted  d i sea s e  and complicati ons from e ar l ychild birt h .
Th e legis lationexpre s ses the  sense of  Congress  t hat: “ …(1 ) child ma rriage i s a viola t ion o f  h umanrig hts an dits  prev ention and  elim inatio nshould  be a  U .S. fore ign policy goal; and (2 ) expa nding  ed ucational  op p ort unities f or g irls, econ omi c o pport uni t ies f or w o me n,a nd re duci n g materna l  a ndc h il d mortality a r e c ritic alt o achi evin g the MillenniumD evelopment Goa ls a n d  U. S.g loba lhealth and dev elo pm e n t object iv es, includi ng effor ts to pr eventHIV/AI DS. Aut h o ri z es the  Pre sid ent to pr ovi de assista nc e, includ ingth roughmultil a tera l ,  nongovernmental , and f aith- b ase d org an ization s , to  prevent c hild marria ge indeve lopin g count ri es and  to  p romote the education al, h ealth,ec onom ic,  socia l, a n d  lega l em po wer ment of g i r ls an dw ome n.”The l eg isla tion is n o w before  th e  U.S> H ou seo f  Repre s en t a tives forcon sider a t ion.

This legi s la t ion p asseddue to  the ti r ele ss  effort s o f Sen. Rich ard Durbi n  (D -I L) a nd Sen.Ol ympi aSno we  (R-ME). The le gislatio n passed 
 the_next few_weeks, Hunger Advocates across_the nation_will_have another_opportunity_to make their_voices heard and_protect vital hunger-relief programs_like TEFAP and_SNAP._Will you join us? I will be sending out more information and asking you_to_call your_Member_of_Congress as that vote nears.

For_those of you that sent_emails and_letters to your U.S. Senators, I thank you_for_helping to protect_and strengthen programs that help to feed hungry Americans._Remember, without a strong federal commitment,_we, as a_nation,_cannot_hope to create a_hunger-free America. Please stay tuned for_more ways you can get involved_in the coming weeks.

06/20/2012

Last month, the United_States Senate passed the International Protecting_Girls by Preventing Child Marriage_Act of_2011 (S.414). This is an_important step in_upholding the_rights of adolescent_girls around the world and a_critical step in_preventing the harmful practice of child_marriage,_which often has_devastating_consequences_for girls,_their families and_their_communities.

It is_estimated_that worldwide there are over sixty_million_child brides. It has been reported that_child marriage disproportionately affects_the_poor rural communities in_the developing world, and helps_perpetuate the cycle of poverty. When_a girl_marries before_her eighteenth birthday, she has a greater probability of the following:becoming_a victim of domestic violence; being_deprived of education; and_being exposed_to_health risks associated_with_early sexual_activity including sexually trasmitted disease and complications_from early_child birth.

The legislation expresses the sense_of Congress that: “…(1)_child_marriage is a violation of human_rights and its prevention and elimination_should be a U.S. foreign_policy_goal;_and (2) expanding educational opportunities_for girls, economic opportunities for women,_and reducing maternal_and child mortality are critical to achieving_the_Millennium Development Goals and U.S. global_health_and development objectives, including efforts to_prevent_HIV/AIDS._Authorizes the President to provide_assistance, including through multilateral, nongovernmental, and_faith-based organizations, to prevent child marriage in developing countries_and to promote_the educational, health, economic, social,_and_legal_empowerment of girls and women.” The legislation is now before_the U.S>_House of Representatives_for consideration.

This legislation passed due to the tireless efforts of_Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Sen. Olympia_Snowe (R-ME). The legislation passed