Your advocacy works. Thanks to tremendous public opposition from partners like you, USDA has withdrawn two proposed rules to weaken SNAP/CalFresh and reduce access to food assistance. This is a major victory for the anti-hunger movement, and it wouldn’t have been possible without your actions. Thank you.
Background
In 2019, USDA proposed three changes to SNAP that would have cut vital food assistance for millions of low-income Americans and hundreds of thousands of Californians.
The first would have cut off from SNAP more than 700,000 people looking for work. It was struck down by a DC court in October 2020.
The second proposed change would have thrown 3.1 million people off SNAP and jeopardized free school meals for 1 million children by eliminating the option California and other states use to eliminate the asset test and raise the gross income limit. The proposed rule has officially been withdrawn by USDA.
The third proposed change was estimated to cut SNAP food benefits by $4.5 billion and harm households that struggle to afford food and pay utility bills — disproportionately harming older adults and people with disabilities. It too has been officially withdrawn.
Nourish California and our local, state, and national anti-hunger partners are pleased USDA took this step to protect SNAP/CalFresh. We look forward to continuing our work to strengthen our most powerful anti-hunger program during the pandemic and beyond.
What’s next?
Please stay tuned for more updates on how you can help ensure all Californians have the food they need to thrive. Sign up at our Action Center and follow us @Nourish_CA.
Questions?
Contact Jared Call at jared@nourishca.org
