House Relief Package Would Deliver Much Needed Help to Millions of Californians
Published on Mar 2, 2021 in Federal Advocacy
Last week, the House passed a $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package. The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration. Nourish California commends House Chairs and Members of the California delegation for the important legislation passed out of their committees last week.
We are pleased that the proposed relief package would:
- Extend the 15 percent increase in SNAP/CalFresh through the end of September 2021
- Extend the Pandemic EBT program through the pandemic and over the summer months
- Invest $750 million to support nutrition programs for older Americans
- Boost the WIC Cash Value Benefit and provide $390 million for WIC outreach, innovation, and program modernization efforts
- Temporarily expand eligibility for the Child and Adult Care Food Program at emergency homeless shelters for youth from age 18 to 25
- Provide emergency funding to stabilize the child care sector and public schools
- Fund much needed state fiscal relief so California isn’t forced to cut critical health and social services at the worst possible time
- Provide significant economic relief to those experiencing the greatest need through measures focused on low- and moderate-income households, including direct payments, an extension of unemployment benefits, and expansions in the Child Tax Credit, the Child and Dependent Tax Credit, and the Earned Income Tax Credit
Together, the legislation will help millions of Californians get through this unprecedented crisis. Even with the help Congress has provided so far, families are still running out of food. The need is as urgent as ever. Nourish California urges congress to quickly pass the legislation.
