FRAC Chat

Let me start by thanking everyone involved in tonight’s event – those who organized it; those who supported it; everyone who came – some from far away (including some from California); those who have said nice things about me tonight; and those who complied with my request to drop certain pictures out of the slide show.

And I also want to thank my wonderful family – Judy, and my children Andy and Jennie who are here tonight. And I deeply thank FRAC’s staff and Board for their commitment, work, support and tolerance of my idiosyncrasies over these last 22 years. As all those of you who run organizations know, we CEOs get more credit than we deserve and less blame than we deserve. And that is certainly true for me.

People who receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Insurance (SSI) benefits could have a harder time maintaining them under a Trump administration proposed rule that is open for public comment through January 31, 2020.

In 2019, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) proposed three SNAP rules changes that together threaten to take food away from millions of people in need. USDA was required to review and take into consideration public comments submitted prior to moving forward with final rulemaking.

Here is an update on the status of those USDA attempts to sidestep Congress to cut SNAP, and what advocates can do to continue to oppose implementation of those rules changes.

In a Scrooge-like kickoff to the holiday season, the Trump administration finalized the first of three proposals to cut SNAP.The rule would cut nearly 700,000 people off of nutrition assistance. Taken together, the three rules will take food off the tables of an estimated 3.7 million people. On December 19, 2019, Members of Congress, FRAC, and CAP Action gathered outside of the USDA to denounce the Trump administration’s cruel cuts to SNAP.

During the holidays and all year long, millions of individuals and families who struggle against hunger are able to access healthy food with support from the federal nutrition programs. To celebrate the nation’s nutrition safety net, FRAC is releasing a seven-part “Remember This December” series that will highlight the impact of seven important federal nutrition programs.

This is the seventh installment of the series, which focuses on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Read the previous installment on WIC.