Last month, the USCCB spoke out against a proposed rule that limited eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), our nation's foremost anti-hunger program. While it was initially believed that up to 500,000 children would lose direct certification for free school meals as a result of this proposed rule, The Department of Agriculture recently released information that up to 982,000 children would no longer be directly certified for school meals. Because this data was left out of the Department’s initial impact analysis of the proposed rule, the public comment period is once again open to allow input on this new information. 

Direct certification for school meals reduces paperwork for both parents and school systems and saves families from paying for school meals, which can be difficult for many, even at a reduced rate. Taking away this vital resource puts children’s growth, development, and ability to learn at risk. 

 

As Pope Francis reminds us, "We see growing everywhere the number of those who are struggling for access to regular and healthy meals. . . We must respond to the imperative that access to necessary nutrition is a right of all" (Address to the 39th Session of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, June 11, 2015). PLEASE READ MORE AND TAKE ACTION TODAY>>

SALT'S Statement Submitted to the USDA: 

"SALT recently had an opportunity to review the surprise release of information—i.e., data--that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) should have disclosed earlier. The information makes clear the deep harm of USDA’s proposed rule to limit access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): eliminating food assistance for 3.1 million people and jeopardizing free school meals for nearly 1 million children." Read the full statement>>

In case you may have missed it, the SALT 2020 priorities are now available. PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO REVIEW SALT's LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES.