Advocacy & Policy Updates
The Road to the Farm Bill
This week, the chairs of the House and Senate Agriculture Committee each released a framework for the upcoming Farm Bill Reauthorization (the piece of legislation that includes SNAP). These frameworks represent competing visions for food assistance in our country.
As expected, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson’s bill proposes to keep future updates to the Thrifty Food Plan cost neutral, a proposal that would result in a roughly $30 billion cut to SNAP benefits over the next decade and ensure that SNAP benefits do not keep pace with the cost of a healthy diet. While the framework does contain some small improvements to the program, these improvements are paid for by the massive restriction to the Thrifty Food Plan, an unacceptable tradeoff. To learn more about the Thrifty Food Plan and the importance of protecting USDA’s ability to meaningfully update it, see our blog post from last week.
Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow’s framework contains very different priorities for nutrition assistance. Most importantly, it safeguards SNAP by protecting future updates to the Thrifty Food Plan. This framework also works to improve and strengthen SNAP in several ways.
SNAP benefits only provide participants with an average of $6 per person, per day at a time when rates of food insecurity are rising. The Farm Bill cannot cut SNAP benefits in any way. And make no mistake, the House proposal, which would pull $30 billion out of SNAP over the next 10 years, is a cut. We will keep you updated and hope that you will join us in spreading the message: NO CUTS TO SNAP!
For more information about the Farm Bill frameworks, see statements from our friends at FRAC and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
Learn More About the Thrifty Food Plan
To learn more about the House Agriculture Committee proposal to keep future updates to the Thrifty Food Plan cost neutral, which would cut SNAP by $30 billion over the next decade, join PHAN (the Pennsylvania Health Access Network) next Monday May 6 at 1pm for a webinar. Ann Sanders from Just Harvest and Ed Bolen from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities will talk about what this means and how to get involved in stopping cuts to SNAP. Register here to receive the link.
WIC Public Comment
The Pennsylvania Department of Health is looking for feedback and suggestions about the Pennsylvania WIC Program (Special Supplemental Program for Women, Infants, and Children). This is a great opportunity for former and current WIC participants, stakeholders, and advocates to provide valuable feedback about the challenges and successes of WIC in PA. You can provide feedback by attending one of the following sessions in person, virtually, or by phone.
Wednesday, May 1, 2024 from 1:00pm - 4:00pm. Hosanna House, 807 Wallace Ave, Wilkinsburg, PA 15221
Friday, May 3, 2024 from 11:00am - 2:00pm. Hamilton Health Center, 110 S 17th Street, Harrisburg, PA 17104
Friday, May 3, 2024 from 1:00pm – 4:00pm. 556 W. Fourth Street, Erie, PA 16507
Wednesday, May 15, 2024 from 1:00pm – 4:00pm. 3401 Hartzdale Drive, Camp Hill, PA 17011
Friday, May 17, 2024 from 1:00pm – 5:00pm. 1034 Park Ave, Meadville, PA 16335
To attend these Public Comment Sessions by telephone or Microsoft Teams, please use the login information below:
Phone: 1-267-332-8737, Conference ID: 429 749 429#
Microsoft Teams: https://bit.ly/4cUKrn1
For anyone unable to attend a Session, the Department will accept comments by email at ra-wicprogram@pa.gov or mail at Department of Health, Bureau of Women, Infants and Children (WIC), 625 Forster St., 7 West, Health and Welfare Building, Harrisburg, PA 17120. Submit comments no later than May 31, 2024.
