Increasing hunger is a policy choice. The Big Ugly Bill already imposed the largest SNAP cut in the program’s history, and now, with the shutdown, millions more are at risk of losing access to the nutrition program when funding is depleted in two weeks.
The administration can―and must―take steps to protect SNAP benefits. SNAP running out of money would be catastrophic. Nearly 1 in 8 people, including 16 million children and 8 million people with disabilities, would go without the food assistance they need.
Two-thirds of the money needed to partially fund another month is in SNAP’s contingency fund, which must be used when regular funding falls short. The contingency fund has $6 billion, which is still short of the $8 billion needed to fully fund SNAP recipients per month. The administration can use other measures to ensure families get full November benefits―and they must act ASAP to give states guidance and enough time to get families the help they need to put food on the table.
Earlier this month, the Trump administration, via the United States Department of Agriculture, moved $300 million to WIC, the nutrition program that serves women, infants, and children. It’s time for the administration to do the same for SNAP, by tapping funds that are allowed by law to be used for this purpose.
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DonateCHN’s regular Friday Advocates Meetings are off-the-record. Thank you for not quoting speakers in materials you send to your networks. UPDATE: The Friday, Feb. 1 Friday Advocates Meeting will be located at CLASP, 1200 18th Street NW, Suite 200. If you would like to attend a FAM, please contact Joe...
CHN’s regular Friday Advocates Meetings are off-the-record. Thank you for not quoting speakers in materials you send to your networks. If you would like to attend a FAM, please contact Joe Battistelli: jbattistelli@chn.org
CHN’s regular Friday Advocates Meetings are off-the-record. Thank you for not quoting speakers in materials you send to your networks. If you would like to attend a FAM, please contact Joe Battistelli: jbattistelli@chn.org