Tell Congress: Halt Hunger This Summer!
Right now, Congress is working on the Farm Bill, a multi-year piece of legislation that comprehensively addresses agriculture, food, nutrition, hunger, and public health policies. This moment is a vital opportunity to strengthen federal nutrition programs that ensure children have healthy foods to grow and develop.
Unfortunately, some elected officials are pushing for harmful cuts to many important programs that provide important hunger and nutrition assistance to families in need. These programs are lifelines to millions of individuals and families with low incomes, many of whom have been struggling with food prices due to corporate price gouging. If passed, these proposals would:
- Cut $30 billion to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) over next decade, impacting nearly every participant;
- Cut $500 million to the Summer EBT program, which provides grocery benefits to children in low-income families during the summer when schools are closed;
- Cut $100 million to The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), which provides food to food banks and pantries;
- Limit the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s ability to update the Thrifty Food Plan, which determines SNAP benefit levels. Updating the Thrifty Food Plan allows SNAP to reflect the actual costs of a nutritious diet.
As people of faith, we know that Jesus’ vision for flourishing is one where “all ate and were filled” (Matthew 14:20). We are called to extend the Lord’s Table to all, and hunger doesn’t take a summer vacation for young children and their families.
Join us today by calling on Congress to protect children and families and halt hunger this summer!