MAZON Decries “Cruel” and “Wrong-Headed” Efforts to Restrict SNAP, Instead Supports Bill to Increase Assistance

March 14, 2023

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MAZON strongly criticized proposals that would increase existing limits on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamps).

“These cruel proposals send the message that people suffering from hunger somehow don’t deserve help,” said Abby J. Leibman, MAZON’s President & CEO. “Wrong-headed efforts like this will always backfire, because tightening restrictions on programs like SNAP will only deepen and increase food insecurity for those who are struggling.”

Current SNAP work requirements restrict essential benefits for “able-bodied adults without dependents” between ages 18 and 49. Congressman Dusty Johnson of South Dakota introduced legislation today to expand this category to age 65. Earlier this year, Senator Rick Scott of Florida introduced similar legislation that would raise the restriction to age to 59. Both bills would also bar states from seeking a waiver for the “ABAWD time limit,” even if they lack sufficient jobs to provide employment for those in need.

“Let’s put aside for a moment that SNAP is not a work program — it’s a nutrition program. Let’s ignore the fact that until a few years ago, people were encouraged to retire and stop working at age 62. Let’s pretend that the number of seniors receiving SNAP is not way too low and the real issue for them is access to the program in the first place,” Leibman added. “We should not be accusing people of getting SNAP when they don’t deserve it. We should be making it easier for people to get help when they need it, rather than punishing them and imposing even more restrictions.”

Instead, Leibman welcomed the Improving Access to Nutrition Act, which was recently introduced by Congresswoman Barbara Lee of California and Congresswoman Alma Adams of North Carolina. MAZON’s 2023 Farm Bill priorities include strengthening SNAP and other federal nutrition programs, removing barriers to SNAP for specific populations like military families and single mothers, empowering tribal food sovereignty and food security in Indian Country, and improving equity for the people of Puerto Rico.

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Historic Cuts to SNAP Deepen the War on Women (Ms. Magazine)

The last few months in Washington, D.C., have been consumed with political theatrics around the budget reconciliation process. Republicans in the House and Senate scrambled to pass legislation that will cut $184 billion from SNAP through 2034—by far the largest cut to SNAP in the program’s history—to finance tax cuts for the wealthy big businesses. They also hope to increase funding for pursuit of immigrants. Read more.

House Ag Dems: OBBBA will allow states to end SNAP (The Fence Post)

States will be allowed to opt out of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program if state officials decide they cannot or will not pay the increased cost share under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), Democratic members of the House Agriculture Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture Subcommittee repeatedly pointed out at a hearing today. The three witnesses all agreed. Read more.

Partnering with MAZON: Fighting Hunger and Nourishing the Jewish Soul (TC Jewfolk)

TC Jewfolk is proud to partner with MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger – a national organization inspired by Jewish values – to fight to end hunger among people of all faiths and backgrounds in the United States and Israel.

“We need committed advocates who do the work to move legislation aimed at ending hunger forward, as well as to fight harmful policies that would erode the safety net that enables so many people to put food on the table,” Haviv explained. “That work must happen at every level, and we are committed to a strong effort in statehouses nationwide.” Read more.