Protect SNAP

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is at the core of our nation’s response to hunger. A new proposal would cut more than 3 million low-income individuals from this critical program. We need your help defeating this harmful policy change. Take action now to protect SNAP and make sure our Illinois neighbors have access to the food they need.

Background & What’s at Stake

On July 23, the White House announced its latest proposal to restrict access to SNAP. The proposal would restrict a SNAP policy known as broad-based categorical eligibility (BBCE). This harmful proposal comes after Congress passed a bipartisan Farm Bill that protects SNAP. Low-income families with children would lose access to critical nutrition programs under this rule. The Food Depository strongly opposes this proposed change and urges the White House to rescind it. Read our full statement here.

What you can say in your comment

The more people who submit a comment in opposition to this policy change, the greater our chance of defeating it and safeguarding food assistance for vulnerable families.
Follow this link to submit your comment. You will be asked to personalize your comment. Below are some talking points to get you started, but be sure to use your own words.

• The proposed rule would increase hunger among our most vulnerable neighbors. This proposal would cause 3.1 million individuals to lose SNAP benefits and 500,000 children to lose free school meals.
• Making cuts to SNAP harms our most vulnerable neighbors. SNAP already works effectively to address hunger for those most in need. In particular, this rule would make it more difficult for children to access school meals: the Administration estimates that 500,000 children would lose access to free and reduced-price meals at school. Here in Illinois, 41% of those who receive SNAP benefits are children.
• This proposal will decrease efficiency for state agencies while increasing hunger for families. Categorical eligibility streamlines the process by which families’ eligibility for SNAP is determined. This policy makes it easier for families in need to receive food assistance and allows state agencies to run more efficiently. Changes to this policy would create more work for overburdened state agencies.
• Cutting SNAP now will have consequences in the future. SNAP is our nation’s frontline defense against hunger, and millions of Americans depend on it to afford a nutritious diet. Cuts to SNAP have consequences for public health and the overall well-being of our community.
• Food assistance charities cannot compensate for cuts to SNAP. For every meal the Food Depository provides in Cook County, SNAP provides the equivalent of eight meals.

Additional Resources

• Download our backgrounder document for additional information about this proposal and its potential impact here in Illinois.
• Read our Q&A with Diane Schanzenbach, Director of Northwestern University’s Institute for Policy Research.