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Home » Issues » Polling (HUMAN RIGHTS -- POVERTY -- HUNGER)

Hunger

The USDA defines "food insecurity" as the lack of access, at times, to enough food for all household members. In 2017, an estimated 15 million households affecting 40 million Americans were food insecure. Many of these hungry people are employed. In 2013, about 30% of all adults requesting emergency food assistance had jobs. Organizations that provide food to our poor claim this is nothing new, saying that it is getting harder for many middle-class families to stay self-sufficient. More than 45 million Americans rely on stipends from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to buy food each month. And at least 22 million American children America rely on the free or reduced-price lunch they receive at school. The 8 states that have the highest rates of food insecurity are: Mississippi (18.7%), Louisiana (18.3%), Alabama (18.1%), New Mexico (17.6%), Arkansas (17.5%), Kentucky (17.3%), Maine (16.4%), Oklahoma (15.2%). Our most effective tool against hunger is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the food stamp program.

Proposed Legislation: H.R.1470 - Anti-Hunger Empowerment Act of 2019
Prospective Sponsor: Rep. Nydia Velazquez (NY)

I oppose reforming current hunger policy and wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Speaker Nancy Pelosi (CA).
I support reducing administrative requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), authorizing funding to increase access to SNAP offices, and authorizing grants for community-based nonprofits to expand anti-hunger activities by:

1.) Repealing existing provisions regarding administrative costs and authorizing the USDA to pay 75% of the administrative costs for state agencies to carry out new activities to increase the operating hours of SNAP offices, reduce wait times, accept online applications, upgrade technology, and provide a checklist of required documents.

2.) Providing that if a state agency believes that information provided by a SNAP applicant is incorrect or incomplete, the agency must notify the applicant in writing and include instructions for providing the required information.

3.) Prohibiting a state from requiring an applicant to appear in person unless the information is not provided in response to the request or cannot be verified. State agencies may not require fingerprints for any member of a household to participate in SNAP or receive benefits.

4.) Establishing a Beyond the Soup Kitchen Pilot Program to provide grants to community-based nonprofit feeding and anti-hunger groups for programs and technical assistance to reduce hunger, increase the use of nutrition assistance and anti-poverty programs, bolster food security, assist individuals and families to develop assets, promote economic independence, improve nutrition and reduce obesity.

And wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Rep. Nydia Velazquez (NY) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.

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Poll Opening Date

November 22, 2021

Poll Closing Date

November 28, 2021

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