Protect Hungry Families by Protecting and Strengthening SNAP
Please protect millions of low-income hungry Americans by speaking directly to congressional leadership urging them to strongly oppose cuts or structural changes, including proposals to penalize struggling families via “work requirements”, to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamps) and other nutrition programs.
SNAP is Critical to Ending Hunger in America
Millions of Americans are struggling to put food on the table, and SNAP is critical to meeting those needs. In 2016, almostone in six children in the U.S. lived in households struggling with hunger(16.5%, according to USDA). Studies show that children who are regularly hungry suffer from weakened immune systems, slowed and abnormal growth, and anemia. Children in families that do not struggle against hunger tend to be healthier, while young children from food-insecure households are two-thirds more likely to be at risk of developmental problems.
SNAP plays a critical role as our first line of defense against hunger, helping many working families make ends meet and get on their feet. The Census Bureau estimates that SNAP lifted 3.6 million people above the poverty line in 2016. SNAP plays a critical role in helping families get ahead when times are tough or wages aren’t enough, while supporting local economies.
Anti-Poverty Programs are Working – Protect and Strengthen SNAP
SNAP and other programs provide a crucial, often temporary, support for those struggling to make ends meet in low-wage jobs or with irregular hours, reducing poverty by almost half. As we saw during the Great Recession, SNAP is an effective response to hunger in times of economic downturn or natural disasters. It is critical that this flexibility to react quickly and robustly in times of increased need is maintained. RESULTS opposes changes to SNAP and other nutrition programs that would harm vulnerable children and families, increase hunger, and reduce SNAP’s effectiveness.
In addition, SNAP is a critical support for working families or those struggling to find work – and RESULTS is concerned about proposals in the next Farm Bill to take food away from vulnerable Americans as they are striving to get on their feet and move out of poverty. RESULTS strongly opposes efforts to enact structural changes (including “block grants” or any state pilots), changes in financing, increased work requirements, or other cuts to nutrition programs, which would undermine the core responsibility of the federal government to address hunger and poverty nationwide. Instead, policymakers should strengthen SNAP by increasing benefits so all families can have access to quality nutrition throughout the month. Please communicate to Congressional leadership your support for protecting nutrition programs and taking steps to assure all hungry people in our country receive the assistance they need to move out of poverty.
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