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End Hunger Connecticut! recently joined over 250 national and state/local organizations in signing a Gender Justice Farm Bill letter, organized by the Food Research and Action Center, the National Women’s Law Center and Mom’s Rising. The letter calls on Congress to use the upcoming Farm Bill to strengthen and expand the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and to make investments that advance family economic security and health. The letter was submitted to the House and Senate Agricultural Committee on August 14, 2023.
SNAP is the nation’s first line of defense against hunger. The program not only promotes better nutrition and reduces food insecurity, but it also frees up money for families struggling to make ends meet to spend on other critical living expenses.
As we near the 2023 Farm Bill reauthorization, the top priority must be to protect and strengthen SNAP. We are growing increasingly concerned about some policymakers proposing deep, harmful cuts to SNAP, which would be a major step backwards. It’s essential to ensure that any final farm bill does not include any cuts or other harmful changes to SNAP that would take food assistance away from families or otherwise restrict program access.
Specifically, we urge Congress to pass legislation that address three core areas: increasing equitable program access, improving benefit adequacy, and improving customer service. Included in these categories should be removing harsh, arbitrary time limits on work requirements that punish individuals who are struggling with employment during an economic downturn. A proposed expansion of time limits to caregivers with children six and older will fall hardest on women who are more likely to be caregivers and to be underemployed in low-wage jobs.
End Hunger Connecticut! was extremely disheartened to learn that Congress passed a raise on the debt ceiling on the backs of Americans, which includes tens of thousands of Connecticut residents, who are already struggling to make ends meet and put food on the table. We are most deeply concerned about and do not support the changes to the SNAP and TANF work requirements, which would expand the already harsh and arbitrary time limits on these programs for older adults struggling with obtaining adequate employment. Food is a human right, not an incentive; adequate food access should not be dictated by how many hours you work. — Julieth Callejas, Executive Director, End Hunger Connecticut!
Research shows that women and LGBTQIA+ people experience higher rates of hunger and food insecurity and disproportionately rely on SNAP to feed their families, and harmful cuts to the program will also hit them disproportionately. An investment in strengthening SNAP is not only an investment in greater nutrition security for low-income families, but also an investment in advancing economic security, health, and gender equity.
Top Photo by Jhon David on Unsplash
About us: End Hunger CT! works statewide to eliminate hunger and promote healthy nutrition through outreach, public education, and advocacy. EHC! offers SNAP assistance, nutrition program promotion, doubles SNAP at farmers’ markets, and more to help CT residents in need. To learn more about our services, click here.
Have any questions? Contact our Communications Coordinator, Kimberly Nguyen, at knguyen@endhungerct.org.
