Statement by Catholic Charities USA on Passage of Farm Bill.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- As part of its Campaign to Reduce Poverty in America, Catholic Charities USA called on Congress to address the issue of hunger by passing a Farm Bill with a strong nutrition title. Today, Congress responded by resoundly passing a veto-proof Farm Bill which is a first step in reducing poverty in this nation.

"The bold bi-partisan leadership by Congress today promotes the common good and speaks to the values of our nation," say Candy Hill, senior vice president for social policy and government affairs. The passage of this bill is a victory for men and women, children, and the elderly who will benefit from the substantial improvements to the nutrition title.

In November 2007, Catholic Charities USA released results of its annual survey of Catholic Charities agencies. The data substantiated understanding that situations are getting worse for the poor in this country. At the same time, we asked Congress and our administration about leadership's role in addressing issues affecting the least among us. Today our leadership has begun to rise to this challenge.

Catholic Charities USA is one of the nation's largest private networks of social service organizations, with more than 1,700 agencies and institutions providing essential services to nearly 8 million people annually, regardless of their religious, racial, ethnic, or economic background. To learn more about its Campaign to Reduce Poverty in America, visit www.CatholicCharitiesUSA.org/poverty.