Resources to Protect Federal Nutrition Safety Net Programs

Use these resources in your advocacy efforts:

Data show the strength and economic benefits of the nutrition programs:

New Data Show the Prevalence of Hunger and Poverty:

• FRAC’s food hardship data document people’s inability to afford enough food down to the Congressional District level. State-level data on food insecurity (USDA) and on poverty (U.S. Census Bureau) also demonstrate the widespread struggles facing Americans.
  Message: Too many people – including many in your own district – struggle with hunger.

• SNAP Benefits Can Lift People Out of Poverty:
  Recently released poverty data show that, if counted as income, SNAP would have lifted more than 3.9 million Americans above the poverty line in 2010. Data from USDA show the impact of SNAP benefits on poverty by state.
  Message: SNAP fights hunger, and lifts people out of poverty.

• SNAP Protected Low-income Households from Increasing Hunger during the Recession:
  USDA researchers found that the boost to SNAP benefits included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and effective beginning in April 2009 improved the food security of low-income households.
  Message: Improvements to SNAP made a difference for low-income families by reducing hunger in their households

Organizations, Capitol Hill and Americans across the country support federal nutrition programs:

• 2,700 Organizations Urge Congress to Protect SNAP:
  This letter (pdf) urges Congress to protect SNAP from harmful cuts and to preserve the program’s successful structure.
  Message: Many organizations in our state are urging you to protect SNAP. 

• State Organization Sign On Letters Supporting SNAP:
  These letters for Senate Agriculture Committee Members and letters for State Delegations urge Members of Congress to strengthen and protect SNAP, and oppose any proposals to cap or reduce funding, restrict eligibility or reduce SNAP benefits.

• Congressional Leaders Express Support:
  Letters circulated by Representatives Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) and Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) (pdf) with 174 signatures, and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) (pdf) demonstrate broad support for the nutrition programs.
  Action: Share these letters to show support for protecting SNAP.
  

• National Polling Data Demonstrate Broad Support:
  Seventy-one percent of Americans said that cutting SNAP would be the wrong way for Congress to reduce spending next year. Support was high across party lines, age, race, gender, income, and geographical areas.
  Message: SNAP has strong support among registered voters.