Trump, Clinton Release Statements About Hunger and Poverty in Advance of Oct. 9 Debate

WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#Debates2016–Bread for the World today commented on statements released by Donald J.
Trump and Hillary Clinton prior to their Oct. 9 debate about how they
would address hunger and poverty in both the U.S. and around the world.

“Both statements provide valuable insights into how each candidate would
address hunger and poverty in our country and around the world, and in
many ways stand in stark contrast to each other,” said Rev. David
Beckmann, president of Bread for the World. “The statements also set the
stage for Martha Raddatz and Anderson Cooper, the moderators of this
Sunday’s debate, to ask Trump and Clinton to defend their competing
plans to reduce hunger and poverty.”

“One in five U.S. children struggles with hunger. So why has there been
virtually no mention of hunger and poverty in the presidential and
vice-presidential debates?” asked Beckmann.

The statements were provided to Vote to End Hunger (VTEH), a coalition
of 166 groups working to make hunger, poverty, and opportunity a higher
political priority in 2016. These and other groups have been working for
some time to make hunger and poverty election issues. VTEH has also been
coordinating a social media campaign urging the debate moderators to ask
about hunger and poverty.

In January 2015, faith leaders with the Circle of Protection began
asking all major party presidential candidates to make a short video
about what they would do as president to offer help and opportunity to
hungry and poor people in the United States and around the world. The
leaders received videos from Clinton and most of the other presidential
candidates, but not from Trump.

In the statement that was just released, Trump discusses the need to
address hunger and poverty. But the main solution he offers is his plan
to promote economic growth by cutting taxes for corporations and
high-income people, partly at the expense of programs that benefit
low-income people.

Trump notes that hunger and poverty around the world are a threat to
international peace and stability. But he proposes to cut international
development and humanitarian programs, calling vital programs such as
maternal and child health “bloated and unaccountable.”

In previous statements, Trump has also called for the mass deportation
of undocumented immigrants.

Clinton’s newly released statement proposes a national goal of cutting
poverty in half over ten years. She would promote growth and create jobs
through a major program of public investment in infrastructure,
affordable housing, education, and development in low-income
communities. She would also raise the minimum wage and ensure that women
are paid equally.

Clinton’s statement also discusses her work to raise the productivity of
struggling farmers in poor countries and says she will fight to
eradicate hunger worldwide.

In previous statements, Clinton has promised comprehensive immigration
reform and criminal justice reform, both of which would open
opportunities for many families struggling with hunger and poverty.

Read the statements from Trump and Clinton here: http://votetoendhunger.org/about-hunger/presidential-candidate-videos/

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.

Contacts

Bread for the World
Chris Ford, 202-688-1077
cford@bread.org