President Obama Stands Firm on Creating Opportunity

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Tuesday night, President Barack Obama delivered the annual State of the Union address. Consistent with Bread for the World Institute's 2014 Hunger Report: Ending Hunger in America, the president reiterated his focus for the next three years on creating sustainable jobs, strengthening the economic safety net, providing access to education and equal employment opportunities, and developing strategic community partnerships both domestically and abroad.

Bread for the World president Rev. David Beckmann issued the following statement about the address and subsequent Republican responses:

"President Obama said it best when he said, 'The best measure of opportunity is access to a good job.' We are encouraged by his charge to Congress to approve legislation that creates jobs. This is point one of our 2014 Hunger Report.

"With 10.4 million unemployed people in America, this State of the Union is particularly timely. We applaud the president for taking a firm stance on emergency unemployment insurance, access to quality education, equal opportunity, immigration reform, and raising the minimum wage Tuesday night. He also affirmed that few programs are more effective than the earned income tax credit in helping families make ends meet. Cuts to vital anti-hunger and anti-poverty programs will only increase hardship at a time when millions of Americans are still struggling.

"We also celebrate the president's emphasis on ending extreme poverty overseas and building local partnerships as a pathway to increase U.S. security. Bread for the World has long touted these as essential factors to securing us from terrorism and other national security threats.

"Together with Bread for the World's thousands of members and thousands of local churches, we urge President Obama to set a goal and work with Congress to enact a plan to end hunger by 2030.

"Ending hunger is possible, but it will require strong political will to do so. President Obama affirmed this last night as he vowed to work with Congress on issues of national and global importance."

Bread for the World experts are available to provide comment and analysis on the impact of the president's remarks on struggling families nationwide.

Bread for the World (www.bread.org) is a collective Christian voice urging our nation's decision makers to end hunger at home and abroad.

SOURCE Bread for the World