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.
View a recording of this webinar here.
Since May, the number of poor children in the U.S. has grown by 2.5 million. Parents report their families are going without enough to eat. Millions of households are on the brink of eviction and can’t afford to pay for their basic living needs. When families don’t have adequate access to the internet, children are shut out of education. The Senate and the Trump Administration have allowed children’s urgent needs to go unmet by failing to agree to more help for families.
Now, as Congress returns for a post-election session, you are needed to show them they must act – and soon. Join CHN, First Focus Campaign for Children, and RESULTS for Our Children are in Danger: A webinar about increased hunger, poverty, and other serious threats to children and their families because of the pandemic.
You’ll hear from Deborah A. Frank, M.D., Founder and Principal Investigator of Children’s HealthWatch. Dr. Frank is a nationally recognized expert on the impacts of economic and social factors on very young children. You’ll hear from parents Kimberly Mitchell and LaShon Marshall about their experiences caring for children during the pandemic. And you’ll hear analysis of new research findings on how children are faring from Indi Dutta-Gupta, Co-Executive Director of the Georgetown Center on Poverty & Inequality, and a leading authority on policy that alleviates poverty and inequality. You’ll also hear about the kind of relief Congress must pass from Cara Baldari, Vice President of Family Economics, Housing and Homelessness at First Focus Campaign for Children. Cara’s work centers on building the political will for a national commitment to reduce child poverty in the United States. Deborah Weinstein, Executive Director of the Coalition on Human Needs, will be the moderator.
You’ll get reliable information about how children and families have been affected in the pandemic, including alarming racial disparities. And you’ll also get current information about Congressional proposals for reversing this damage – and how to use it to get our children out of danger.
This webinar will be close-captioned. All registrants will be sent the full recording, slides, and links to important resources.