4.10.2013 This morning President Obama released his FY 2014 budget proposal. The proposal includes several key commitments to the federal nutrition programs; strengthening their role in improving low-income household’s access to nutritious, affordable food. In particular, CFPA is pleased to see restoration of the scheduled November 2013 cut to SNAP benefits. The budget proposal also includes funding to support the Women’s, Infants, and Children (WIC) program, and supports continued implementation of the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act. In contrast to the President’s budget proposal the House Republican proposal would cut nutrition funding by $135 billion.
If not restored the drop in SNAP benefits would result in a loss of about $20-$25 per month for a family of three according to the Congressional Budget Office. This is a significant benefit cut for families already struggling to put enough food on the table.
USDA’s Office of Budget and Program Analysis has posted a budget summary. link
We thank the President for his support of the federal nutrition programs. As the Farm Bill is taken up we must continue to push for similar support among Members of Congress. Negotiations thus far have included proposals to preserve and protect SNAP, as well as drastically cuts benefits and change the program’s current structure. The Senate Agriculture Committee plans to mark up the latest version of the Farm Bill this month, creating several opportunities for Members of Congress to express their interest in reducing the occurrence of hunger and supporting low-income families by opposing cuts and structural changes to SNAP.
Opportunities for Farm Bill Action You Can Take
(1) Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) is inviting her colleagues to sign on to a letter in support of full funding for SNAP.
View a copy of the sign on letter. Link
View a copy her Dear Colleague letter. Link
(2) Ninety-seven House Members have cosponsored H. Res. 90, which expresses the Sense of the House that the Committee on Agriculture should not propose benefit cuts to SNAP and that, if the Committee does report legislation cutting SNAP benefits, the House of Representatives should reject these cuts.
View Representative Jim McGovern’s “Dear Colleague” letter seeking cosponsors for H. Res. 90 and list of current cosponsors. Link
(3) National, state and local organizations can demonstrate support for fully funding SNAP by adding their names to a list being compiled by the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC).
Learn more and add your organization to the list of groups supporting full funding for SNAP by emailing emelcher@frac.org or jpatterson@frac.org
