Joint Letter - People Power United statement on the using the Farm Bill to strengthen SNAP
🗽A well informed citizenry is the best defense against tyranny.
Over 250 national and local groups signed a letter urging Congressional leadership to unequivocally support using the Farm Bill of 2023 to strengthen SNAP. People Power United was proud to join this effort on behalf of our membership.
Resources
National Women’s Law Center article & Letter pdf
Joint Letter
August 14, 2023
Dear Chairwoman Stabenow, Ranking Member Boozman, Chairman Thompson, and Ranking Member Scott,
As organizations dedicated to promoting gender justice and working to ensure all women, LGBTQI+ people, and their families can live their lives with dignity, we write to urge lawmakers to use the Farm Bill to strengthen and expand the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and to make investments that advance family economic security and health.
SNAP is our nation’s bedrock nutrition and anti-hunger program, helping millions of women, LGBTQI+ people, and their families around the country to put food on the table and promoting health by supporting families in affording a nutritious diet. Recent data on participation show that women, people of color, LGBTQ+ people, and people with disabilities were more likely to participate in SNAP:
● From October 2019 to February 2020, women were more than six in 10 (63 percent) of adult SNAP recipients.
● About one in three (33.0 percent) non-elderly adult SNAP recipients was a woman of color in 2020.
● From June 2020 through September 2020, over six in 10 (64 percent) of SNAP households with children were headed by a single adult, 92 percent of which were headed by women.
● In 2020, 29 percent of LGBTQ women and 28 percent of nonbinary/genderqueer individuals reported that they, their partner, or their children received SNAP benefits in the past year.
● In 2015, SNAP served over 11 million people with disabilities.
The program not only promotes better nutrition and reduces food insecurity, it also frees up money for those struggling to make ends meet to spend on other necessary costs like medical care and housing.
Research shows that SNAP leads to improved health outcomes for families, as well as improved education, economic security, and other positive outcomes for children who grow up in families with low incomes. In 2022, SNAP moved about 2.8 million people out of poverty, including nearly 1.2 million women (316,000 of whom are Black, 293,000 of whom are Latina, 46,000 of whom are Asian, and 500,000 of whom are white, non-Hispanic).
And yet, existing restrictions, like time limits, prevent too many people from accessing SNAP’s life-saving benefits. Congress must rollback existing time limits and, at a minimum, reject any attempt to expand these already harmful restrictions. The majority of adult SNAP recipients who can work, do work and research has shown that time limits do not increase employment or have a positive impact on the economy. And time limits punish those who face barriers to seeking employment, including those who struggle to find work in an economy without enough jobs with full-time hours and living wages. Calling the SNAP time limits “work requirements” is a misnomer, as a person's willingness to work or conduct an active job search does not suffice to protect them against being cut off from SNAP. 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.
In addition, Congress should take the opportunity in the Farm Bill to eliminate other arbitrary restrictions on SNAP such as:
● time limits that impose additional barriers on college students;
● limits on using SNAP to purchase hot food at the grocery store;
● barriers for immigrants with authorized statuses;
● barriers for people convicted of a drug felony and are trying reenter society; and
● the block grant restriction for SNAP in U.S. territories.
At the same time, Congress must protect the updates to make the Thrifty Food Plan calculation more accurate for the 21st century. USDA undertook this update based on instructions from the 2018 Farm Bill.
In addition to protecting and strengthening SNAP, the Farm Bill represents an opportunity to advance family economic security through improving access to child care and improving public health. Over half of families live in a child care desert, without a sufficient supply of child care, but for rural families, the supply crisis is even worse, with nearly 3 in 5 rural communities considered a child care desert. In a 2022 survey from Save the Children, 55 percent of rural voters said that availability of child care has declined since the pandemic. The Farm bill should prioritize child care in US Department of Agriculture rural development programs as laid out in the bipartisan Expanding Childcare in Rural America (ECRA) Act.
In addition to the child care crisis, the maternal health crisis also disproportionately affects women in rural America. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2021, maternal deaths increased 40 percent from the previous year. Women in rural and underserved communities face additional risks and challenges, such as a lack of access to coordinated care, that lead to higher rates of maternal mortality and other severe health complications. We support increasing Community Facilities program funding to rural hospitals specifically for maternal health and maternal telehealth services. We must meet these important needs for women by providing robust support for rural health care systems through the Farm Bill.
In conclusion, the Farm Bill is an opportunity to close equity gaps and invest in women, LGBTQ+ people, and their families by protecting and strengthening SNAP, improving access to child care, and increasing funding for rural hospitals. We urge you to prioritize these policies in the upcoming Farm Bill reauthorization.
Sincerely,
National Women's Law Center, MomsRising, and Food Research & Action Center
National Organizations
A Better Balance
Alliance to End Hunger
American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)
American Federation of Teachers
American Muslim Health Professionals
Asian Pacific Institute on Gender-Based Violence
Autistic Self Advocacy Network
Bend the Arc: Jewish Action
Bread for the World
Care in Action
Caring Across Generations
Center for Advancement of Public Policy
Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP)
Center for Science in the Public Interest
CenterLink: The Community of LGBTQ Centers
Children’s Defense Fund
Children's HealthWatch
Clearinghouse on Women's Issues
Coalition on Human Needs
Color of Change
Community Change Action
Conduit Government Relations
Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd, U.S. Provinces
Color Of Change
DemCast USA
Educare Learning Network
Equal Rights Advocates
Equality Federation
Esperanza United
Family Values @ Work Action
Feminist Majority Foundation
First Focus Campaign for Children
FORGE, Inc.
Futures Without Violence
Hunger Free America
Indivisible Metro East
Institute for Women's Policy Research
Jewish Women International
Justice and Joy National Collaborative
Justice for Migrant Women
Kairos Center for Religions, Rights and Social Justice
League of Women Voters of the United States
MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger
MEANS Database
Minority Veterans of America
Movement Advancement Project
NARAL Pro-Choice America
National Action Network
National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd
National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum
National Association of Social Workers
National Black Justice Coalition
National Center for Lesbian Rights
National Council of Jewish Women
National Domestic Workers Alliance
National Education Association
National Employment Law Project
National Health Care for the Homeless Council
National LGBTQ Task Force
National Network to End Domestic Violence
National Organization for Women
National Organization of API Ending Sexual Violence
National Partnership for Women & Families
National Resource Center on Domestic Violence
National Women's Health Network
Network Lobby for Catholic Social Justice
Oxfam America
People Power United
Physicians for Reproductive Health
Planned Parenthood Federation of America
Positive Women's Network-USA
Prosperity Now
Reproductive Health Impact
ROC United
RuralOrganizing.org Education Fund
Sexual Violence Prevention Association (SVPA)
Start Early
Student Basic Needs Coalition
Supermajority
Tahirih Justice Center
The Arc of the United States
The Fenway Institute
The Hope Center at Temple University
The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
The National Domestic Violence Hotline
Trans Empowerment Project
UnidosUS
Union for Reform Judaism
United Church of Christ, Justice and Local Church Ministries
URGE: Unite for Reproductive and Gender Equity
USOW
We Said Enough
Women of Reform Judaism
Young Invincibles
YWCA USA
State/Local Organizations
Alabama
AIDS Alabama
Feeding Alabama
Alaska
Alaska Farmers Market Association
Alaska Federation of Natives
Alaska Food Policy Council
Arizona
William E. Morris Institute for Justice
Arkansas
Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families
Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance
California
Alameda County Community Food Bank
CA LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network
California Association of Food Banks
Crazy Quilt Solutions
Equality California
Food for People
Food Share of Ventura County
GLIDE
GRACE/End Child Poverty California
Indivisible Marin
Indivisible Sacramento
Indivisible Sonoma County
Law Foundation of Silicon Valley
Los Angeles LGBT Center
Los Angeles Regional Food Bank
National Council of Jewish Women CA
Northridge Indivisible
Nourish California
San Francisco AIDS Foundation
San Francisco-Marin Food Bank
Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County (CA)
Second Harvest of Silicon Valley
The Gubbio Project
The Resource Connection Food Bank
Valley Oak Children's Services, Inc.
Venice Resistance
Colorado
Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger
Hunger Free Colorado
NCJW CO section
Connecticut
End Hunger Connecticut!
Delaware
Food Bank of Delaware
District of Columbia
D.C. Hunger Solutions
The Restaurant Opportunities Center DC (ROC DC)
Florida
Audubon Park Church
Buddy System MIA
Feeding NE Florida
Florida Impact
Florida Policy Institute
Jacksonville Urban League
Georgia
Atlanta Community Food Bank
Georgia Budget and Policy Institute
National Council of Jewish Women Atlanta Section
NCJW Georgia
Hawaii
Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks!
Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute
Idaho
Idaho Hunger Relief Task Force
Illinois
AAUW Naperville
Illinois National Organization for Women
Indivisible Metro East
National Council of Jewish Women Chicago North Shore section
National Council of Jewish Women South Cook Section
Women Employed
Indiana
Feeding Indiana’s Hungry
IFDW (Indiana Federation of Democratic Women) Women's Caucus
Indiana Community Action Poverty Institute
Indiana National Organization for Women
Indiana Justice Project
Indy Hunger Network
MADVoters
Monroe County National Organization for Women
Women4Change Indiana
Iowa
Common Good Iowa
Iowa Citizen Action Network
Monsoon Asians & Pacific Islanders in Solidarity
Kansas
Kansas Action for Children
Kentucky
Kentucky Equal Justice Center
Kentucky Food Action Network
Lexington Pride Center
Louisiana
The Restaurant Opportunities Center of New Orleans (ROC NOLA)
Maryland
Maryland Hunger Solutions
Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence
National Council of Jewish Women, SPA Maryland
RESULTS DC/MD
Massachusetts
Coalition for Social Justice Education Fund
Greater Boston Legal Services
Massachusetts Law Reform Institute
Maine
Full Plates Full Potential
Good Shepherd Food Bank of Maine
Maine Women's Lobby
Preble Street Maine Hunger Initiative and Food Justice Coalition
Michigan
Levi Teitel
Michigan League for Public Policy
National Council of Jewish Women, Michigan
Minnesota
OutFront Minnesota
Hunger Solutions Minnesota
Missouri
Empower Missouri
National Council of Jewish Women - St. Louis
Montana
Montana Food Bank Network
Nebraska
Nebraska Appleseed
OutNebraska
Nevada
Food Bank of Northern Nevada
New Hampshire
NH Hunger Solutions
New Jersey
Advocates for Children of NJ
Community Food Bank of NJ
New Jersey Citizen Action
New Mexico
New Mexico Voices for Children
New York
Food Bank of Central New York
Foodlink
Hunger Solutions New York
North Carolina
Benevolence Farm
Bread Riot
Community Partners Across the South
CFSA
Feast Down East, Inc
Food Justice Planning Initiative
North Carolina Justice Center
The Help Center NC
Ohio
National Council of Jewish Women Cleveland Section (OH)
Ohio Association of Foodbanks
Oklahoma
Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma
Oregon
Oregon Food Bank
Pennsylvania
Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank
Just Harvest
Kids First Consulting, LLC
National Council of Jewish Women, Pennsylvania
National Council of Jewish Women-Greater Philadelphia Section (PA)
Philabundance
Share Food Program
The Restaurant Opportunities Center of Pennsylvania (ROC PA)
Women's Law Project
Rhode Island
URI Feinstein Hunger Center
South Carolina
FoodShare South Carolina
Latino Communications CDC
Lowcountry Food Bank
Lowcountry Street Grocery
South Carolina Appleseed Legal Justice Center
Women's Rights and Empowerment Network
Tennessee
Family Voices of Tennessee
NAMI Davidson County
Nashville Launch Pad
Patchwork
Tennessee Justice Center
Texas
Every Texan
Feeding Texas
National Council of Jewish Women Greater Dallas Section
National Council of Jewish Women, Texas
Utah
Utahns Against Hunger
Vermont
Hunger Free Vermont
Vermont Foodbank
Virginia
Birth in Color RVA
Virginia Fresh Match
Virginia Hunger Solutions a project of Virginia Poverty Law Center
Washington
Anti-Hunger & Nutrition Coalition
Economic Opportunity Institute
NCJW Washington State
Northwest Harvest
St. Michael's Pantry
University District Food Bank
Washington Low Income Housing Alliance (WLIHA)
Washington State Association of Head Start and ECEAP
West Virginia
West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy
Wisconsin
Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin