An Action Alert from the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy
Funding for supplemental nutrition assistance—a vital support for low-income families and children—is on the chopping block. This week the House of Representatives will debate the Farm Bill, which includes nearly $21 billion in catastrophic cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP (formerly food stamps), causing millions of low-income children and families struggling with hunger to see their food assistance cut, or to lose their benefits entirely—a loss of 8 billion meals.
We must take action. We cannot let this happen.
Here are two things you can do:
- Tomorrow, June 18, is a National Call-In Day . Call your member of Congress to express your opposition to the House version of the Farm Bill with its $20.5 billion in cuts to SNAP. Call the toll-free hotline at 866.527.1087 to be connected to your member of congress.
- Send an email to your member of Congress telling them that cuts to SNAP are unacceptable.
The House Farm Bill will:
- Cause 2 million individuals to lose their SNAP benefits entirely
- Cause 210,000 children to lose access to free school meals
- Cause 850,000 households to see their benefits cut by an average of $90 per month
- Slash nutrition-education funding, which helps low-income families stretch limited resources to maximize nutrition
SNAP offers nutrition assistance to millions of eligible, low income individuals and families and provides economic benefits to communities. SNAP is the largest program in the domestic hunger safety net. The Food and Nutrition Service works with State agencies, nutrition educators, and neighborhood and faith-based organizations to ensure that those eligible for nutrition assistance can make informed decisions about applying for the program and can access benefits. FNS also works with State partners and the retail community to improve program administration and ensure program the integrity.
We need your help to take action to help families put food on the table . Now is the time to stand up for vulnerable families!