Press Releases

GROUPS CALL ON CONGRESS TO REASSESS ITS PRIORITIES

Las Cruces, NM -- Community Action Agency of Southern New Mexico (CAA-SNM) today joined more than 750 organizations representing every state to call on Congress to reject plans to slash essential services for vulnerable Americans and pass new tax cuts

In a letter sent to all members of the House and Senate, the organizations urged lawmakers to abandon plans to cut Medicaid, Food Stamps and other assistance to low-income people and to reject additional tax cuts that would reduce the revenues needed to meet urgent needs.

In a letter sent to all members of the House and Senate, the organizations urged lawmakers to abandon plans to cut Medicaid, Food Stamps and other assistance to low-income people and to reject additional tax cuts that would reduce the revenues needed to meet urgent needs.

"It is unthinkable that Congress would press ahead with cuts to health care, food and other assistance for low-income Americans, including hundreds of thousands of hurricane survivors," said Deborah Weinstein, Executive Director of the Coalition on Human Needs. "How can they even consider cutting vital services with so many in need? Congress must choose the right priorities - protecting and rebuilding lives over squandering billions in tax cuts for the well-connected few."

In response to Hurricane Katrina, Congress delayed action on bills that would cut at least $35 billion from Medicaid, Food Stamps, and other services and provide $70 billion in additional tax breaks, primarily for the wealthiest Americans. However, Congress is returning to this agenda. Cuts to Medicaid and other services - and more tax cuts - will be considered when Congress returns from its mid-October recess. The letter stressed that action on these distorted priorities should be abandoned, not just delayed. It also urged that the additional services needed for the victims of Katrina not be paid for by cutting vital services for other low-income people.

"More tax cuts for the wealthy and cuts in services to vulnerable Americans are the wrong priorities, plain and simple," said Nancy Duff Campbell, Co-President of the National Women's Law Center, a co-chair organization of the Fair Taxes for All Coalition. "They were wrong before Hurricane Katrina and they are wrong now. It is especially shameful that lawmakers would invoke Hurricane Katrina to justify an agenda that would force lower-income Americans to make the biggest sacrifices and give more tax breaks to the wealthy."

To view the letter and a complete list of the organizations that signed on, visit: http://www.chn.org/pdf/reconciliationsignon.pdf

COMMUNITIES SUFFER DUE TO CUTS IN FUNDING

On September 30, 2005 Congress passed a Continuing Budget Resolution which, in effect, cut CSBG (Community Services Block Grant) Funding by one-half. These are the funds that help provide Family Resource Services and Food Bank Services in your area through Community Action Agency of Southern New Mexico, Inc. (CAA-SNM).

This drastic reduction in funds has resulted in the temporary closing of the Family Resource Services Offices in Grant, Luna, Sierra, and Southern Dona Ana Counties; with only City of Las Cruces Gas Utility Assistance and Project Care from El Paso Electric offered in Las Cruces. These offices may be closed permanently, as CAA-SNM has to make a decision between continuing with food distribution or Family Resource Services (which provides services such as rental assistance, utility assistance and prescription). "These cuts not only affect the employees of theses programs but affect the communities as families no longer have a place to turn to for help", says Las Cruces FRS worker Maria Corral.

As funds are cut on a federal level, we have to make continuing cuts on the local level. We know this is a terrible time to cut services when families in Southern New Mexico are struggling to make ends meet and we are truly sorry.

If you would like to do something to insure that funds are not cut further and to voice your concerns over the decisions being made at a national level, please call local your congressman or local elected officials.

ALBERTSON S TO ASSIST NON-PROFIT IN THEIR

HOLIDAY FOOD DRIVE CAMPAIGN

The Albertsons on 2551 E. Lohman will assist Community Action Agency (CAA) by hosting the 1st Annual "Celebrity Bagging" for Hunger. The event will take place Saturday, November12th from 11am to 4pm. For over seven years CAA has been working to provide a holiday meal to families in Dona Ana County. Holiday Food Boxes can cost anywhere from $20-$25. The box includes all the trimmings of a holiday meal including a turkey. BJ Manning of Albertsons Lohman location said, "We are confident that Las Cruces will support this cause and help CAA meet all of their needs." Local celebrities including Mayor Bill Mattiace, County Commissioner Kent Evans, members of the Las Cruces Fire Department, New Mexico State University employees and many others will be lending a hand to help feed families for the holiday season.

All three Albertsons locations will be participating; however the Lohman location will be the only store hosting the "Celebrity Bagging". In order to make shopping easier the Holiday Food Box Committee members will be at all Albertsons locations with a list of food items needed. "This is an easy way for the community to support families in need for the holidays" said Laura Hernandez, Public Relations coordinator for CAA, "All you have to do is go grocery shopping at Albertsons."

"We would like to say that this is a project that is no longer needed but each year our numbers get bigger," says Laura Hernandez. Over 1600 families were fed last year and the goal for this season is 2000. Each month the CAA Food Bank provides food for over 11,000 families through monthly commodities and emergency food programs according Henry Montez, Food Bank Director.

The Holiday Food Box Project is solely funded by donations and the drive of numerous volunteers made of various community organizations. The Holiday Food Box Committee would like to encourage your participation in this event. For more information please contact Laura Hernandez at (505) 541-7953.