We strongly urge you to take actions during the August congressional recess (through September 5th), including contacting Members of Congress in order to protect the Food Stamp Program when FY 2006 Budget Reconciliation decisions are made in September. We appreciate the work that you and other allies across the country have done to date to help safeguard the Food Stamp Program from budget cuts. As we near this critical juncture in the budget process, however, we have been warned that the "long knives" are out for food stamps. Therefore, we ask you to redouble your efforts on behalf of vulnerable people. The period during August and the Labor Day weekend in September provide a lot of opportunities for contact with Members and their staff and for media work.