Why Sen. Tom Udall's Appointment to Appropriations Committee is Important for Anti-Hunger Advocates in New Mexico

Bread advocates meet with then Rep. Udall

Sen. Tom Udall is becoming increasingly important for our anti-hunger efforts.  He was already a key legislator because of his position on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. That committee plays a key role in decisions regarding poverty-related foreign assistance and transparency of foreign aid.  Here is a note in Bread for the World's Web site about an important vote that the committee took in September.

Committee assignments for the new Congress were announced this past week, and you might have read in the Albuquerque Journal or a political blog or heard on the TV news that Sen. Udall  has also landed on the Senate Appropriations Committeee.  The committee ( on which former Sen. Pete Domenici also served), plays a major role on spending decisions.  Remember that action alert from May 2011, when Bread members were asked to call the Senate Appropriations Committee in support of full funding for International Affairs?

Here is a description of the committee's role from its official Senate Web site.

 Its role is defined by the U.S. Constitution, which requires "appropriations made by law" prior to the expenditure of any money from the Federal treasury. The Committee writes the legislation that allocates federal funds to the numerous government agencies,

With Sen. Udall on both the Foreign Relations and Appropriations committees, it's very possible that that you will get an action alert to contact him when legislation is at the committee level.  Stay tuned.