Action Center

To prepare for the congressional recess next week, we are sending you actions and resources to push back against proposals currently in play that could cut or weaken SNAP and school meals. Members need to hear strong opposition from constituents and local organizations that these proposals would dramatically increase hunger, have a negative impact on health, and hurt local economies.

Take the SNAP Challenge (March 18-20) 
Encourage your Members to join you in taking the nationwide SNAP Challenge. Use this fact sheet to learn more on attempting to get the nutrition you need on the average SNAP benefit of $6 per person per day. Or ask your Members to participate in a SNAP Shop (purchase three days of groceries on a SNAP budget) or engage in a community roundtable conversation with those taking the challenge and SNAP recipients.

Get Vocal on Social (March 20) 
Join the Nourish the Nation Digital Day of Action – Thursday, March 20, to oppose cuts to SNAP and school meals. Use this toolkit – including graphics, sample tweets, and talking points to share with your Members highlighting the impact of cuts in your community.

SNAP:  

• Share the SNAP support letter signed by over 1,800 organizations nationwide, highlighting the benefits of SNAP and opposing proposals that cut, gut, or weaken the program.
• Use SNAP participation data by congressional district.
• Fact sheet on the many strengths of SNAP.
• Share these powerful quotes on why SNAP matters.

School Meals:

• Share Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) state-by-state fact sheets, just released by FRAC and the Center on Budget & Policy Priorities. The factsheets detail how proposed cuts to CEP would worsen childhood hunger, hurt struggling families, and create unnecessary burdens for schools and districts. Includes a breakdown of how many high-poverty schools in each state would have to drop CEP, how many children attend them, and a list of the affected school districts.
• Letter signed by over 50 national organizations opposing cuts to school meals.

Contact Tim Klipp-Lockhart (tklipp-lockhart@frac.org) or Ellen Teller (eteller@frac.org) to learn more on how to engage with your Members.

On Friday, February 21, the Senate passed its budget resolution 52-48 after nearly 10-hours of debate and 25 roll call votes on amendments, better known as vote-a-rama, the first step in reconciliation. The Senate’s plan would boost defense and border security funding by more than $300 billion paid for by cuts to programs under the jurisdiction of multiple committees, including the Senate Agriculture Committee (in the Senate, tax cuts would be addressed in a later package). In contrast, The House resolution instructs the Agriculture Committee to cut at least $230 billion for fiscal years 2025 through 2034, mainly through SNAP cuts, and at least $330 billion in cuts from the Education and the Workforce Committee (child nutrition programs) during the same time period. The severity of those cuts pose challenges for centrist and moderate Republicans.

Now is the time to advocate for the protection of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and school meals. SNAP is a vital resource for millions of Americans, while the Community Eligibility Provision supports students, families, and schools. We need your help to ensure these programs remain intact, free from harmful cuts.

Four Key Actions to Take:

1. Sign-on Letter – The Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) and more than 1,800 national, state, and local organizations from every state in the country signed on to a letter urging Congress to reject any proposals that would cut or weaken the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the child nutrition programs. Use the letter in your advocacy.
2. Explore the state-level impacts of proposed cuts to school meals in FRAC’s new state-by-state CEP fact sheets. Find your state and use our fact sheets in your advocacy.
3. Take FRAC’s Nationwide SNAP Challenge, March 18-20, to get a glimpse of the difficult choices many people face with an inadequate SNAP benefit.
4. Use the FRAC Action Network to email Members of Congress on protecting both SNAP and school meals.

For questions or more information, contact Tim Klipp-Lockhart, tklipp-lockhart@frac.org.

SNAP Matters: Quotes from Participants

SNAP matters. Learn why in FRAC’s new SNAP Matters two-pager, which features quotes from SNAP recipients on the federal nutrition program’s value and importance. Learn why proposed cuts to SNAP would be disastrous for people with low incomes by exploring the testimonials of SNAP participants.

Learn More

Take Action: Oppose Any Cuts to School Meals

House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-TX) has put out a list of proposals for budget reconciliation, which includes $12 billion in cuts to school breakfast and lunch. Use the FRAC Action Network to ask your members of Congress to protect school meals and oppose any cuts in reconciliation that would reduce funding and limit access to school meals.

Take Action to Protect School Meals

Action Needed: Protect SNAP from Harmful Cuts

SNAP is a vital lifeline for over 42 million people — combating hunger, improving health, and boosting economic well-being. However, GOP leadership is proposing billions of dollars of cuts to the program that would worsen food insecurity and health outcomes and strain local economies. Use the FRAC Action Network to urge your Members of Congress to vote against SNAP cuts.

Take Action to Protect SNAP

Budget Reconciliation 101

Curious about Budget Reconciliation? Unsure about the process or special rules to look out for? Explore this three-page report that explains what you need to know.

Read FRAC's Budget Reconciliation 101

Sign Up for the FRAC Action Network!

Urge your Representatives to support and strengthen the Federal Nutrition Programs. Learn about the latest opportunities for action by signing up for the FRAC Action Network. Hungry people can’t wait.

Sign Up Now