Protect and Strengthen SNAP: Turn Up the Heat During Memorial Day Recess Week
Efforts by anti-hunger advocates and others proved critical to ensuring the House rejected the Farm Bill (H.R. 2) on May 18, but the House likely will schedule a second vote on H.R. 2 on June 22, and the Senate Agriculture Committee is working toward a mark up date. Advocates should weigh in now and during the upcoming recess week to urge Representatives and Senators to make sure the Farm Bill does not increase hunger. Find out more…
FRAC’s Review of President’s Proposed FY 2019 Budget
On Monday, February 12, President Trump released his FY 2019 budget proposal. One key component: devastating proposed cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that reflect a total disregard of the critical role SNAP plays as a first line of defense against hunger and poverty for tens of millions of Americans. Check out a statement from FRAC President Jim Weill. For a summary of proposed reductions to SNAP and an overview of how other critical nutrition and social safety net programs fare in the president’s budget, check out FRAC’s newly released analysis (pdf).
ON THE HILL
- 2018 Farm Bill letter to House and Senate Budget and Appropriations CommitteesFRAC is proud to have played a leadership role in developing and garnering support for this letter (pdf) urging the House and Senate Budget and Appropriations Committees not to “hinder development and passage of the 2018 Farm Bill with further cuts.”
- SNAP Support Letters
Take Action
FRAC Response to Dangerous House FY2018 Budget Resolution - Advocates Urged to Take Immediate Action
Find out more
Read FRAC’s Farm Bill Primer
Read More
Prohibit Lunch Shaming: Endorse S. 1064 and H.R. 2401
Organizations: Take action here
Organize a Site Visit
Read MoreThe Anti-Lunch Shaming Act of 2017
Read more
Recent Publications & Data
See More Resources- Best Practice
School meals programs provide children with the opportunity to receive the nutrition they need throughout the school day. Many households participate in school meals programs to ensure that their children are fed when they are away from home. There are various instances, however, when a household that is not certified for free or reduced-price school meals may not be able to pay for school meals. Reasons for the lack of money on the school lunch account can vary from a change in household income status, a misunderstanding of school meal procedures, or simply forgetting to refill the account. When this occurs, school districts should ensure that communication about the debt is held with the households and not the students. There are several effective strategies for outreach and engagement with households that have school meal debt.
Read more - Fact Sheet
This fact sheet, from the National Women’s Law Center and the Food Research & Action Center, describes how SNAP helps lift and keep low-income women and families out of poverty, and highlights how proposed changes to SNAP in the 2018 House Farm Bill would harm women and families.
Read more - Fact Sheet
The Afterschool Nutrition Programs fill the hunger gap that exists after school for millions of low-income children in rural communities. The programs, which include the Child and Adult Care Afterschool Meal Program and the National School Lunch Program Afterschool Snack Program, provide federal funding to afterschool programs operating in low-income areas to serve meals and snacks to children 18 and under after school, on weekends, and during school holidays.
Read more - Fact Sheet
The Summer Nutrition Programs can fill the hunger gap that exists during summer break for millions of low-income children in rural communities. Pairing summer meals with summer programs addresses the loss in learning that too many low-income children experience over the summer months.
Read more
News
FRAC Chat
Turn up the heat during Memorial Day recess week (May 26–June 3) by letting your Members of Congress know you stand with groups representing children, women, veterans, seniors, civil rights, people with disabilities, educators, faith-based leaders, and others in wanting Congress to protect and strengthen the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Participation in community eligibility has grown each year. In the 2016–2017 school year, over 20,000 schools enrolling more than 9.7 million children benefited from community eligibility. Now is the time for school districts to determine whether they can implement or expand community eligibility for the 2018–2019 school year.
Today, FRAC recognizes National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day, a day that brings attention to the importance of mental health in child development. FRAC is highlighting the strong influence food security has on positive mental health outcomes in children and teens.