Republicans in the House and Senate are proposing to slash more than $230 billion from SNAP and school nutrition programs in order to fund more tax handouts for the wealthy and billion-dollar corporations. But it’s far from a done deal.
SNAP is not only our most effective anti-hunger program, it plays a crucial role in reducing poverty and improving health and economic outcomes. It’s also linked to better education outcomes and self-sufficiency, and plays an important role in supporting rural communities.
SNAP is one of the most cost-effective government programs in existence. Every dollar spent on SNAP generates $1.80 in local communities. Cuts to SNAP and school nutrition programs will have devastating consequences for generations to come.
Individual states currently pay a portion of the cost of administering SNAP, while the federal government pays the actual benefits. Implementing a $230 billion cut could force states to take on a portion of the cost of nutrition benefits for the first time, a radical change in the program that could lead to drastic cuts, increasing wait times for approval for benefits, or put a huge squeeze on states leading to slashed investments in other programs.
Cutting SNAP (and Medicaid, another right-wing target) also makes it harder for eligible families to obtain free or reduced-price school meals, summer food assistance for school-aged children (Summer EBT), and WIC benefits. School meal programs and Summer EBT automatically enroll eligible children using SNAP and Medicaid, while WIC agencies use automated systems to check for SNAP or Medicaid eligibility. In addition, the House Budget Committee has put forth numerous specific budget-cutting proposals, including a $12 billion cut to free school breakfast and lunch programs, affecting 24,000 schools nationwide.
Cutting funding for nutrition programs in order to pay for some of Trump’s $4.5 trillion tax handout―mostly to the wealthy and corporations―is an abomination.
Reception: Thursday, July 13th 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
CHN’s Human Needs Hero is coming back in-person this year! Join us to celebrate a true champion for human needs.
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, we are especially excited to honor an exceptional champion who has spent decades fighting for human needs: Our very own Sister Richelle Friedman.
For over thirty years, Richelle tirelessly brought the truth about poverty, equity, and meeting human needs to Congress, the White House, and the general public. As Director of Public Policy for CHN, her passionate commitment to justice was a guiding light for countless human needs advocates. As determined as she is personable, Richelle’s tenacity ensured key policymakers and their staff had to confront the realities of those living on the margins and could not ignore the policy solutions that work. Her tireless work contributed to real progress in fighting hunger and poverty. Richelle spearheaded the Strengthening America’s Values and Economy (SAVE) for All campaign, a national coalition of organizations calling on Congress to protect and empower people with low incomes; promote job creation and strengthen the green economy; require the wealthy and corporations to pay their fair share; and cut wasteful spending in the Pentagon and elsewhere. Her work brought together the human needs community and nurtured the next generation of policy advocates. Now that she is, as she says, “leaving her ministry in D.C.,” it will be a very special time for you and many other human needs advocates to celebrate Richelle.
In honoring Richelle, we are honoring the very personification of the values that make our Coalition special. So we hope you will join the Coalition on Human Needs in celebrating Richelle’s remarkable achievements, and help ensure we can continue the fight against poverty, systemic racism, food and housing insecurity, voter suppression, and other injustices that contribute to widening inequality and hardship.
This year is especially exciting for us, as it is CHN’s first in-person Human Needs Hero reception in nearly four years. While we’ve been happy to come together virtually, coming together in the same room has been sorely missed. So if you can, we hope you will join us in the beautiful Solidarity Room of the AFL-CIO, 815 Black Lives Matter Plaza NW, Washington, DC 20006 (formerly 815 16th Street, NW in Washington) to share in laughter, conversation, and food and drinks for a special evening in warm celebration of our much-loved Human Needs Hero.
This is our only fundraising event each year and all proceeds raised go to support the work of the Coalition on Human Needs. We are hoping you and/or your organization will honor Richelle and help CHN by becoming a Human Needs Hero sponsor. You’ll be listed in the program and receive tickets to the event. See full sponsorship information 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 individual tickets.
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 Leo Nguyen at lnguyen@chn.org, by COB Friday, July 7th.
Please feel free to contact Julene Jarnot by email at heroes@chn.org or phone (202-223-2532 ext. 115) with any questions regarding sponsorship or ad formatting.
Important note: In the form below, “ticket” refers to one sponsorship for the first four categories. When sponsoring, please purchase only one sponsorship. If you are sponsoring, please email your guest list to Julene Jarnot at heroes@chn.org.
If you have difficulty with the form below, use this link instead. Prefer to pay by check? Please print and fill out the form at this link here.