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Please take the time to call your member of Congress on June 18!

Funding for supplemental nutrition assistance—a vital support for low-income families and children—is on the chopping block. This week the House of Representatives will debate the Farm Bill, which includes nearly $21 billion in catastrophic cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP (formerly food stamps), causing millions of low-income children and families struggling with hunger to see their food assistance cut, or to lose their benefits entirely—a loss of 8 billion meals.
We must take action. We cannot let this happen.
Here are two ways you can take action:

1.  June 18 is a National Call-In Day. Call your member of Congress to express your opposition to the Farm Bill and the $20.5 billion in cuts to SNAP. Call the toll-free hotline at 866.527.1087 to be connected to your member of congress.
2. Send an email to your member of Congress telling them that cuts to SNAP are unacceptable.

The House Farm Bill will:

• Cause 2 million individuals to lose their SNAP benefits entirely
• Cause 210,000 children to lose access to free school meals
• Cause 850,000 households to see their benefits cut by an average of $90 per month
• Slash nutrition-education funding, which helps low-income families stretch limited resources to maximize nutrition

Protocol:  Steps to take for Bed Bugs Intervention in bedroom.

Step 1: Vacuum entire bed or Steam clean bed – Appropriately hot enough 130 degrees.(Throw away the vacuum bag after it is sealed in plastic).

Step 2: Seal mattress and box spring in plastic covers- use duct tape to seal zipper and any holes.

Step 3: Put two sided tape around legs of bed and/or each leg place on dish with small amount of oil/or bleach in a container or dish under each leg. Bed secure.

Step 4: Bag and seal all clothes, curtains and bedding. Wash one bag at a time and dump directly into washer. (Hot Water) Have clean bags ready to put clothing in after dried. Keep clothes in plastic for the duration of cleaning process. Can keep in dresser in clear bags. Clothing secure.

Step 5: Wash all walls, floor, dressers- etc… with Ammonia and /or Bleach (do not mix).

Step 6: Vacuum floor and cracks in floor- Steam clean carpet. Again use appropriately hot steam vacuum. Seal and throw away the vacuum bag.

Step 7: Caulk all cracks and holes in room. Light switches, ceiling lights.

Parasitic bugs – Should only have to repeat steps 4-6 each week for a month.

Materials Needed:

Vacuum/ and Bags
Steam Vacuum- Buy/ rent
Plastic covers (4 mill at home depot) for mattress and box spring- Most important- Parasite cannot feed on host during cycles- can live up to a year in each cycle without food. $10- $30 per cover.
Duct tape- for zipper of covers. Monitor and tape holes in cover for year+.
Two sided tape- to wrap around the legs of bed and other furniture.
Small Plastic dishes/ can even be the containers/ lids off margarine – 4 needed for legs of bed can also use on dresser and other furniture.
Oil
Clear bags- different sizes- do not want to oversize for clothes in dresser.
Mop
Bucket
Sponge/spray bottle (ammonia and water mixture)
Ammonia and /or Bleach- appropriate cleaning products cheap and work
Caulk and caulk dispenser.

Site Source: Michigan Department of Community Health, 2010

Other information provided by local resident:

After the cleansing with bleach (preferably), then sprinkle baby powder on mattresses etc, the powder is a guarantee to kill any bed bugs that come in contact with the powder, it destroys their outer shell, disrupts their nervous system and … Turn heat on full blast and leave the house.

One way to help members to advocate for themselves to to help them to send in Absent Voter Ballot Applications.  You only need do this once; in red ink, ask them to put them on the permanent list.  Members have appreciated this simple act, to avoid standing in line, not voting because of illness,  possible stressors at check in and in the booth, and  keeping warm and dry!  I have given a guide to absentee voting to members – please email me if you would like me to send it to you, and an application for absent voter ballots.

Help get extra cash!  Most members applied and received a payment during tax season.   The credit is given because of their renter status during 2011, regardless if they pay for heat.  To apply, use the 2011 Michigan Home Heating Credit Claim form MI-1040CR-7, found online through the Michigan Dept. of Treasury.  Look here for instructions and a chart for the standard credit amount.  I have specific instructions if you send an email to  me (like what lines to skip!)