If the Farm Bill to be considered in the House Committee on Agriculture on May 23 becomes law, it will mean a cut of nearly $30 billion in future SNAP benefits over a decade.
Such cuts are unconscionable. For many children, they will make learning more difficult and lead to negative health outcomes. They will force families and older adults to choose between putting food on the table and paying for other expenses such as rent, utility bills, or prescription drugs. They will also harm our economy, removing the stimulative benefits of SNAP and even hurting farmers and ranchers along the way.
SNAP is the most effective anti-hunger program in the U.S. It reduces hunger by 30% and provides nutritious meals to one-quarter of America’s children.
The House bill makes these cuts by limiting the USDA’s ability to update the Thrifty Food Plan, which determines SNAP benefit levels, to reflect the real costs of a nutritious diet, based on science, along with reflecting food prices that remain stubbornly high. This will make it tougher for families experiencing food insecurity as well as the food banks that aid them. These would be the largest cuts to SNAP benefits in almost 30 years if enacted. In addition, these changes will trigger more than $500 million in cuts to Summer EBT, which provides grocery benefits to children in low-income families during the summer when schools are closed, along with $100 million in cuts to The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), which provides food for food banks and food pantries to distribute to individuals and families.
The House bill also would allow states to let private corporations take over determining eligibility for SNAP. Where this has been tried, replacing merit-based staff resulted in corporate skimping on careful help to people applying for or renewing benefits in order to maximize profits. It would also reverse previously enacted steps to reduce agriculture-caused greenhouse gas emissions.
During this time when many families grapple with the cost of housing and food, Congress must do everything in its power to provide relief to those who need it most.
Click “Start Writing” to send a message to Congress urging them to reject any and all cuts to nutrition programs in the FY2025 Farm Bill.
Our second ever (and hopefully last!) virtual Human Needs Hero celebration will be held on Zoom this year!
Every year, the Coalition on Human Needs gathers advocates, from neophytes to veterans with decades of experience, to celebrate our community’s steadfast commitment to standing up for the most vulnerable in our society.
This year is truly a landmark year for the Coalition on Human Needs, as we celebrate four decades of commitment to meet the needs of people with low incomes. And while we want to celebrate our past, we are truly looking toward the future as we continue to grow and diversify our coalition and ensure more and more voices stand united in support of a transformative human needs agenda.
So this year we’re doing things a little differently: Our 2022 Human Needs Heroes are the people and groups who make up the Coalition on Human Needs.
We are so proud of the exceptional organizations and activists who comprise our coalition, from the founders who have been with us every step of the way to those who have just joined recently. Both coalition members and friends of the coalition have come together through truly exceptional and difficult circumstances to continue the fight against poverty, systemic racism, food and housing insecurity, voter suppression, and so many other injustices that contribute to widening inequality and hardship. The dedication of our community is truly heroic.
Join CHN in celebration of our human needs heroes! We are hoping you and/or your organization will sponsor the event and be listed in invitations and our program.
This is our only major fundraising event of the year and all proceeds raised go to supporting the work of the Coalition on Human Needs. So get out your best Zoom shirt, pour your favorite drink, and bring out your loved ones and pets for our 2022 Human Needs Hero reception. We can’t wait to celebrate forty years together. If you have any questions, please reach out to Nicolai Haddal, Field and (Virtual) Events Coordinator at nhaddal@chn.org or 202-223-2532 x115.
In addition to supporting CHN’s work, sponsorship entitles you to ad space in the program. See information for how much space is available below.
Ready to sponsor? Use the form below to provide your tax-deductible contribution toward an organizational or individual sponsorship, buy lines in the program, or purchase reduced-cost admission for fellows and interns. Because this event is a great opportunity to bring the human needs community together, we encourage sponsors to invite interns and new staff as well as experienced advocates who have shared much of CHN’s history.
Program Ad Deadline:
Please submit finished program ads electronically (no PDF’s, please) to Nicolai Haddal, at nhaddal@chn.org, by COB Wednesday, July 5th.
Please feel free to contact Nicolai by email or phone (202-223-2532 ext. 115) with any questions regarding sponsorship or ad formatting.
Important note: “Ticket” below refers to one sponsorship. When sponsoring, please purchase only one sponsorship. You will receive a Zoom link to share with your organization.