More Than 3.1 Million Could Lose SNAP If The Trump Administration Has Their Way
Just months after Congress and the Administration debated and reauthorized the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) through the Farm Bill, the Trump Administration is now proposing to implement, through executive action, a second SNAP benefits cut. This is unacceptable as it would effectively eliminate SNAP benefits for 3.1 million individuals, take free school meals away from the children in those families, and punish people with even meager savings.
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is proposing to gut states’ options to eliminate SNAP asset tests and use a higher income test to serve more working households that have significant expenses for shelter and child care. The current policy option is known as “Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility” (or “Cat El” for short). Congress debated Cat El in the 2005 budget reconciliation act and also during the 2018 Farm Bill debate and rejected it both times. The Trump Administration needs to accept the separation of powers in our U.S. Constitution and take no for an answer.
Missouri has not chosen to make the robust use of Cat El in the way that more than forty other states have. Missouri should, and we want to preserve that option!
The 60-day comment period started on July 24 when the proposed rule was published in the Federal Register and ends September 23. Empower Missouri needs you to take one or both of the following actions:
- File your own comments to the USDA by using the online submission tool. If you prefer, comments may also be sent by regular mail to: Program Design Branch, Program Development Division, FNS, 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, Virginia 22302.
and/or - Sign on to our comments below, which will be also be distributed to Sen. Blunt, Sen. Hawley and all eight of Missouri’s members of the U.S. House.
We also need your help to enlist friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, members of your community of faith, and other caring individuals to sign this letter. Let’s make it clear that there are hundreds in Missouri who stand united against any increase in hunger and for compassionate public policy that is honest about the cost of living. Please share our Facebook post and retweet so that we can get as many signatures as possible before the deadline!
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The proposed rule changes eliminating or reducing “Cat El” would circumvent States’ discretion to consider their citizens’ unique challenges; and punish working families for working more hours, taking a second job, or building a small emergency fund. The proposed changes would hurt low-income families in rural, suburban and urban communities; and deal a blow to local economies.