Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #HandsOffSNAP
Most recents (24)
Nothing says the end of the Trump administration quite like the simultaneous withdrawal of two major regulatory attacks on Food Stamps (!!!)
One of the proposals on its own would have stripped over 3 million people of food assistance and 1 million kids of free school meals:
Getting these rules withdrawn is a *HUGE* win for the #HandsOffSNAP community, who submitted an avalanche of public comments underscoring how the cruelty, once again, was the point.
The #COVID19 crisis is only exacerbating food insecurity at home and around the world, which is why we need to be strengthening programs like #SNAP, not undermining it. Taking food off the table won’t help anyone fight this virus. #HandsOffSNAP
apnews.com/14f0c3a27915ab…
apnews.com/14f0c3a27915ab…
As outlined by @CenterOnBudget, SNAP is one of the most effective mechanisms both to reach low-income households & to provide counter-cyclical help in recessions. That's why @SenateDems are fighting to boost SNAP benefits & increase the maximum allotment.
cbpp.org/research/food-…
cbpp.org/research/food-…
One way we can battle food insecurity, today, is by passing my Increasing Access to SNAP Delivery During COVID-19 Act. More must be done to ensure high-risk individuals are able to maintain reliable access to food while also maintaining social distancing guidelines.
BREAKING: @AGKarlRacine, @NewYorkStateAG & a coalition of 22 Attorneys General have sent a 🔥 letter calling on Trump & Ag. @SecretarySonny Perdue to immediately suspend a rulemaking that could slash Food Stamps for 3.1 million people amid #COVIDー19 if allowed to take effect. 
Refresher on what the rule would do, as well as the politics (like how this is another instance of Trump slashing critical programs by fiat when he doesn’t get his way in Congress)
The injunction halting Trump’s SNAP cuts amid #coronavirus is:
a) obviously great news & a relief to millions
b) a scathing rebuke to Trump & USDA for not listening to Congress or the American people thru the comment process
c) a helluva reminder that comments matter
thread:
a) obviously great news & a relief to millions
b) a scathing rebuke to Trump & USDA for not listening to Congress or the American people thru the comment process
c) a helluva reminder that comments matter
thread:
Since the opinion is 84 pages long, I read it so you don’t have to.
But for those who want to follow along:
Injunction: oag.dc.gov/sites/default/…
Full opinion: oag.dc.gov/sites/default/…
But for those who want to follow along:
Injunction: oag.dc.gov/sites/default/…
Full opinion: oag.dc.gov/sites/default/…
Some of the most damning rebukes include calling out Trump’s USDA for:
-making arguments that are “not only implausible, they are off-the-wall”
-being “equally brazen in its ignorance of longstanding practice and precedent”
-a rule that is “a solution in search of a problem”
-making arguments that are “not only implausible, they are off-the-wall”
-being “equally brazen in its ignorance of longstanding practice and precedent”
-a rule that is “a solution in search of a problem”
#BREAKING: Federal court grants injunction blocking the most troubling parts of Trump's illegal #SNAP rule that would prevent 650K+ Americans and 13K+ DC residents from accessing food assistance. W/@NewYorkStateAG
& 20 states, we are fighting to protect the most vulnerable in US
& 20 states, we are fighting to protect the most vulnerable in US
Judge Beryl Howell writes that during this global pandemic, “…guaranteeing that government officials at both the federal and state levels have flexibility to address the nutritional needs of residents and ensure their well-being through programs like #SNAP, is essential.”
This is a major victory for our country’s most vulnerable residents who rely on SNAP to eat.
That could have been catastrophic in the midst of our current public health emergency: bit.ly/2IKYEpJ
#HandsOffSNAP
That could have been catastrophic in the midst of our current public health emergency: bit.ly/2IKYEpJ
#HandsOffSNAP
Changes to SNAP will profoundly reduce access to the food safety net program. @drlouiseivers and I discuss the public health implications in @NEJM.
nejm.org/doi/full/10.10… #HandsOffSNAP @fractweets @AyannaPressley
Despite talk of "self-sufficiency" and "loopholes"... (cont)
nejm.org/doi/full/10.10… #HandsOffSNAP @fractweets @AyannaPressley
Despite talk of "self-sufficiency" and "loopholes"... (cont)
...let's call these policy changes what they really are - structural violence against poor Americans.
While food insecurity predicts poor health outcomes in virtually every context in which it has been studied, our research focuses on infectious diseases... (cont.) 2/
While food insecurity predicts poor health outcomes in virtually every context in which it has been studied, our research focuses on infectious diseases... (cont.) 2/
...like cholera, where for example we found that the size outbreaks within countries are inversely associated with their level of food security.
@andrewazman @GlobalHealthBMJ @seyeabimbola
gh.bmj.com/content/4/5/e0…
With transmission of #COVID19 expanding by the day... (cont.) 3/
@andrewazman @GlobalHealthBMJ @seyeabimbola
gh.bmj.com/content/4/5/e0…
With transmission of #COVID19 expanding by the day... (cont.) 3/
A7a: Thread: Trump’s proposal to roll back SNAP cat-el would penalize families w/ kids, seniors, & people w/ disabilities who have modest savings by taking away their food assistance. It’s misguided at best: cbpp.org/press/statemen… #FoodFri #HandsOffSNAP
A7b: The proposed change to #SNAP would take food assistance away from 3 million people, making it harder for struggling families to make ends meet. But it’s not just adults that would be harmed… #FoodFri #HandsOffSNAP
A7c: Kids in families that receive #SNAP b/c of the cat-el rule can also get free meals at school. About 500,000 kids would lose their automatic eligibility for free school meals under this Trump proposal: cbpp.org/press/statemen… #FoodFri
#BREAKING: We're leading a multistate lawsuit—along with @NewYorkStateAG—to stop the Trump admin from eliminating SNAP food assistance for nearly 700,000 struggling Americans nationwide, including 13,000 District residents: bit.ly/38nFcu7 #HandsOffSNAP
@NewYorkStateAG SNAP is a critical safety net program that lifts people out of poverty, and if this new @USDA rule takes effect, it will force Americans searching for jobs to go hungry, drive up healthcare costs, and needlessly hamper our economy. #HandsOffSNAP
@NewYorkStateAG @USDA Even though a Republican-led Congress rejected these SNAP changes on a bipartisan basis in 2018, the Trump admin is now attempting an end-run around Congress to advance its heartless agenda.
We're suing to protect vulnerable SNAP recipients and stop this unlawful rule.
We're suing to protect vulnerable SNAP recipients and stop this unlawful rule.
Remember when the Trump admin got caught burying evidence that one of their regulatory attacks on Food Stamps would also strip *over half a million* kids of free school meals?
They just admitted it's actually *1 MILLION.*
Weeks after the comment period closed.
They just admitted it's actually *1 MILLION.*
Weeks after the comment period closed.
As a result, it looks like they'll be reopening the comment period for another 14 days -- meaning there will be not one but *TWO* open comment periods re. Trump's attacks on SNAP running concurrently.
That's how hell-bent he is on taking food away from struggling families.
That's how hell-bent he is on taking food away from struggling families.
Today, I'm leading a group of 24 AGs with @NewYorkStateAG to stop the Trump admin from ending food assistance for millions.
⬇️👏
@AGBecerra
@COAttnyGeneral
@WilliamTongCT
@DE_DOJ
@AtghIgov
@ILAttyGeneral
@kyoag
@BrianFrosh
@MassAGO
@MIAttyGen
@AGEllison
@NevadaAG
#HandsOffSNAP
⬇️👏
@AGBecerra
@COAttnyGeneral
@WilliamTongCT
@DE_DOJ
@AtghIgov
@ILAttyGeneral
@kyoag
@BrianFrosh
@MassAGO
@MIAttyGen
@AGEllison
@NevadaAG
#HandsOffSNAP
@NewYorkStateAG @AGBecerra @COAttnyGeneral @WilliamTongCT @DE_DOJ @AtghIgov @ILAttyGeneral @kyoag @BrianFrosh @MassAGO @MIAttyGen @AGEllison @NevadaAG ⬇️👏
@NewJerseyOAG
@NewMexicoOAG
@NCAGO
@ORDOJ
@PAAttorneyGen
@VTAttorneyGen
@AGMarkHerring
@AGOWA
@WisDOJ
#HandsOffSNAP
@NewJerseyOAG
@NewMexicoOAG
@NCAGO
@ORDOJ
@PAAttorneyGen
@VTAttorneyGen
@AGMarkHerring
@AGOWA
@WisDOJ
#HandsOffSNAP
@NewYorkStateAG @AGBecerra @COAttnyGeneral @WilliamTongCT @DE_DOJ @AtghIgov @ILAttyGeneral @kyoag @BrianFrosh @MassAGO @MIAttyGen @AGEllison @NevadaAG @NewJerseyOAG @NewMexicoOAG @NCAGO @ORDOJ @PAAttorneyGen @VTAttorneyGen @AGMarkHerring @AGOWA @WisDOJ This cruel and unlawful attempt by the Trump admin would:
❌Take food assistance away from 3.1 million vulnerable people, including seniors
❌Cause 265,000 children to lose free school meals
❌Harm public health and increase healthcare costs
❌Harm state economies
#HandsOffSNAP
❌Take food assistance away from 3.1 million vulnerable people, including seniors
❌Cause 265,000 children to lose free school meals
❌Harm public health and increase healthcare costs
❌Harm state economies
#HandsOffSNAP
Let's start from the beginning: Back in July, the Trump admin proposed changes in a key SNAP (food stamps) rule which would take away basic food assistance from an estimated 3.1 million people, mainly working families with kids, seniors, & people with disabilities. #HandsOffSNAP
We wrote about the harmful impacts that this change would have on low-income families across the country here: bit.ly/2Sw0kra #HandsOffSNAP
You have the ability to leave a comment on this rule and tell the Trump Administration why #SNAP is important to you & why this stricter rule would be harmful: secure.feedingamerica.org/site/Advocacy?…
#HandsOffSNAP
#HandsOffSNAP
UPDATE: When Trump issued this rule last week, USDA buried analysis showing more than **HALF A MILLION** kids would also lose automatic eligibility for free school meals.
On top of the 3.1 million people who’d lose Food Stamps.
@NBCNews has the scoop: nbcnews.com/politics/white…
On top of the 3.1 million people who’d lose Food Stamps.
@NBCNews has the scoop: nbcnews.com/politics/white…
@BobbyScott is right, Trump should withdraw the rule. Federal law requires that proposed rules include “relevant scientific & technical findings.”
Half a million hungry kids at risk of losing school lunch if this proposed rule takes effect is like the definition of “relevant.”
Half a million hungry kids at risk of losing school lunch if this proposed rule takes effect is like the definition of “relevant.”
Early in his Presidency, Trump signed into law a bill that increases our deficit by nearly $2 TRILLION to pay for corporate welfare + help the richest become wealthier.
Now, he's trying to take roughly $1/meal from 3 million American families struggling to get by. #HandsOffSNAP
Now, he's trying to take roughly $1/meal from 3 million American families struggling to get by. #HandsOffSNAP
Food stamps kept me from going hungry when I was a teenager. Without them, I never would have been able to serve our country in the Army, the VA or in Congress. #HandsOffSNAP
No child should go hungry, and no parent should have to choose between paying rent or paying for groceries. This is a systematic effort to make it harder for people to get themselves out of poverty.
BREAKING: Trump has issued yet another massive regulatory attack on Food Stamps, again sidestepping Congress to force cuts by fiat—since he didn’t get his way in the Farm Bill last year.
More than 3 million people stand to lose food assistance.
(THREAD.)
More than 3 million people stand to lose food assistance.
(THREAD.)
Trump’s new proposed rule would dramatically weaken the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), by gutting a wonky-sounding but vital provision called “broad-based categorical eligibility.”
This one’s worth dewonkifying, so here we go.
2/x
This one’s worth dewonkifying, so here we go.
2/x
The bottom line?
According to the Trump admin’s own estimates, 3.1 million people will lose food assistance if the rule takes effect.
CBO analysis of prior similar proposals tells us hundreds of thousands of hungry kids could lose free school meals too.
3/x
According to the Trump admin’s own estimates, 3.1 million people will lose food assistance if the rule takes effect.
CBO analysis of prior similar proposals tells us hundreds of thousands of hungry kids could lose free school meals too.
3/x
**ALERT: Sources say Trump's next major regulatory attack on low-income families is coming today.
Will be another attempt to sidestep Congress to make massive cuts to Food Stamps.
Stay tuned for more.
cc: #HandsOffSNAP #talkpoverty
Will be another attempt to sidestep Congress to make massive cuts to Food Stamps.
Stay tuned for more.
cc: #HandsOffSNAP #talkpoverty
Update:
What the rule would do:
Today @HouseAgDems are holding a hearing on the next attack on SNAP we expect from Trump--ending a wonky-sounding but vital policy called "categorical eligibility."
SPOILER: ~2 mil people would lose SNAP annually & hundreds of thousands of kids would lose free school meals.
SPOILER: ~2 mil people would lose SNAP annually & hundreds of thousands of kids would lose free school meals.
@HouseAgDems Stay tuned for more on what we expect from Trump, who would be hurt, and why -- wonky-sounding though it may be -- "categorical eligibility" is a vital part of why SNAP is such an effective antipoverty tool.
Trump's cruel proposed cuts to food assistance wouldn't just massively increase hunger in the U.S...
If enacted, his SNAP cuts would kill ***2.8 million jobs.***
Great by @helaineolen (feat. @rwest817's last analysis for @amprog!) washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/…
If enacted, his SNAP cuts would kill ***2.8 million jobs.***
Great by @helaineolen (feat. @rwest817's last analysis for @amprog!) washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/…
@helaineolen @rwest817 @amprog While his budget may be DOA because Dems took back the House, his proposed cuts to food assistance pose an immediate threat since he's trying to sidestep Congress to enact them.
Just one of those proposed cuts would take food assistance away from 755,000 struggling workers...
and as new @amprog analysis finds, also kill 178,000 jobs over the next decade, and 18,900 jobs next year alone, if it takes effect.
americanprogress.org/issues/poverty…
and as new @amprog analysis finds, also kill 178,000 jobs over the next decade, and 18,900 jobs next year alone, if it takes effect.
americanprogress.org/issues/poverty…
Most families’ SNAP—which provides just $1.40 per person per meal—runs out by the 3rd week of the month.
For many, “budget carefully” = skip meals to stretch early-disbursed February benefits even further—especially since USDA has no plan for keeping SNAP funded into March.
For many, “budget carefully” = skip meals to stretch early-disbursed February benefits even further—especially since USDA has no plan for keeping SNAP funded into March.
The number of days SNAP households have to make it between February and March benefits—assuming there *are* March benefits—because of Trump’s shutdown: bit.ly/2T687eQ
Trump is threatening his shutdown could last “months” or even “years.”
If it continues even a few more weeks, we’ll see hunger in America skyrocket as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (aka food stamps) starts to run short on funds.
(THREAD.)
#HandsOffSNAP
If it continues even a few more weeks, we’ll see hunger in America skyrocket as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (aka food stamps) starts to run short on funds.
(THREAD.)
#HandsOffSNAP
1. SNAP, the nation’s largest food assistance program, helps nearly 40 million people in some 20 million households put food on the table.
Right now SNAP has enough federally appropriated funds to make it through January.
Right now SNAP has enough federally appropriated funds to make it through January.
2. If the shutdown continues into February, millions of struggling Americans’ food assistance will be at risk as SNAP starts to run short on appropriated $.
BREAKING: After failing to gut food stamps in the Farm Bill, Trump has announced he plans to sidestep Congress & unilaterally slash the program by fiat—just days before Christmas.
(THREAD.)
(THREAD.)
1. A proposed rule issued today by the Trump admin would significantly weaken the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), by making it even harder for unemployed & underemployed workers to access food assistance, under the guise of harsher “work requirements.”
2. According to the Trump admin’s own estimates, the rule could jeopardize food assistance for some 755,000 Americans struggling to find stable work.
Great reporting by @Rewire_News.
I have spoken at length about work requirements, and this is why.
What is happening in Arkansas is infuriating.
There's a lot to unpack here, and I know threads can be tedious, but please stay with me. 1/
I have spoken at length about work requirements, and this is why.
What is happening in Arkansas is infuriating.
There's a lot to unpack here, and I know threads can be tedious, but please stay with me. 1/
I live in rural PA, where progressives can be pretty moderate. Last spring, a member of our local progressive group's Facebook page commented, "What's the big deal? If they're able bodied, shouldn't they work?" The comment got "likes," so I asked to speak at the next meeting. 2/
I explained to the group that the goal of #workrequirements was not to get people to work, but to kick ppl off #Medicaid. I stressed that the bureaucracy surrounding work requirements targets those who work. After the meeting, so many said, "I hadn't thought of it that way." 3/
Literally right as House & Senate began conference on the #FarmBill this morning, @USDA released a report finding 15 MILLION American households—about 1 in 6—struggled to put food on the table at some point last year. ers.usda.gov/publications/p…
Yet House Republicans, led by @ConawayTX11, are STILL pushing for massive cuts to nutrition assistance that would take food away from 2 million Americans.
These are the members of Congress who are deciding whether to maintain food assistance through SNAP—or to take food out of the mouths of hungry kids & families to pay for millionaire & corporate tax cuts👇👇👇
handsoffsnap.org #handsoffSNAP #FarmBill
handsoffsnap.org #handsoffSNAP #FarmBill
As of this morning, Republicans are still pushing ahead for a vote on the #GOPFarmBill, which would strip more than 2 million Americans of food assistance.
So it feels like a good time to review some facts about hunger in America.
(THREAD)
So it feels like a good time to review some facts about hunger in America.
(THREAD)
For many of us, the word “hunger” evokes third-world images of kids with distended bellies. Or maybe the homeless man sitting on the subway grate. But in America in 2018, hunger and food insecurity are an alarmingly widespread experience.
2/
2/
In a recent national survey conducted by @amprog, nearly 40% of Americans report that they or someone in their immediate family faced serious problems with “having too little money to buy food”—just within the past year. americanprogress.org/issues/poverty…
3/
3/
As of now, Congress is plowing ahead with a vote on a Farm Bill that slashes food assistance by $23 billion. Often lost in the discussion are the people who are helped by food assistance. Here are some of their stories. 1/7
Let’s start with the basics: Food insecurity is a widespread problem. Almost 1 in 7 Americans have a hard time affording food. Here’s what that looks like by state. 2/7 talkpoverty.org/poverty/?filte…
As it stands, the House Farm Bill will cut nutrition benefits for about 2 million people by making work requirements even harsher. Since most recipients already work, that’s just going to add the type of red tape conservatives say they hate. 3/7 talkpoverty.org/2018/04/20/wor…
