Update: Urgent Action Needed to Stop Raid on SNAP/FS Benefits

From Food Research and Action Center (FRAC)

Thanks to everyone for their hard work this week. We are providing this quick recap to reiterate next steps in light of the SNAP/FS cuts voted on by the Senate yesterday afternoon.

• The Senate voted to pass the "FMAP" bill (technically the Federal Aviation Administration Bill, with amendments), which includes aid to states and funding for teachers' salaries and FMAP (Medicaid). This bill reduces SNAP (food stamps) benefits to generate $11.9 billion to pay for items added to the bill. It does that by ending the economic recovery act's SNAP/FS monthly benefits increase in April 2014.
• On top of this cut, the Senate also voted to pass its version of Child Nutrition Reauthorization, which further reduces SNAP/FS benefits to generate $2.2 billion to pay for this bill - a "child nutrition" bill that will make children hungrier. It does this by moving the SNAP/FS benefits increase termination date forward to November 2013.
• If these two bills are enacted, that means a family of four would see their SNAP/FS benefits fall by $59 starting in November 2013.

In response to the SNAP/FS cuts included in the Senate CNR bill, FRAC issued a statement that urges the House of Representatives to reject the Senate bill and move quickly to pass its version of Child Nutrition Reauthorization.

NEXT STEPS

• Our sign-on letter (pdf) is 1,400 organizations strong and growing by the minute. Please continue to circulate this letter.
• Contact your Members of Congress and tell them to stop the raid on SNAP/FS benefits. Tell them it's unacceptable to cut SNAP/FS and they must pass the House version of CNR in September with other funding. For the Capitol Switchboard, call 202-225-3121; toll-free calls: 1-866-277-7617.

Feedback and Technical Assistance

Check the new FRAC website (www.frac.org) for the latest news on the SNAP cuts. At the home page, you can sign up for the RSS feed and have updates delivered to you.

Please share reports on your contacts and suggestions for additional actions to prevent the SNAP benefit cuts. For feedback and technical assistance, contact evollinger@frac.org and eteller@frac.org.