From: Nita and Shaunna, Ultraviolet

Congress could vote this week on a bill to kick millions of children and families off SNAP–a.k.a. “food stamps.” We have to show them that we won’t stand for attacks on programs that help the neediest Americans. Can you sign the petition?
http://act.weareultraviolet.org/go/1115?t=2&akid=609.6000.jATLGd
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Dear Readers,

Congress wants to take food from the mouths of hungry children and families. Literally.

For 30 years, the food stamp program–now called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or “SNAP”–has been renewed regularly by Congress with broad bipartisan support and minimal opposition.1 And for good reason: SNAP lifted 4.7 million people out of poverty in 2011 alone, 2.1 million of whom were children. SNAP also boosts our economy, returning $9 for each $5 spent on the program.2 No brainer, right?

But Congress is proposing cuts of about $40 BILLION from SNAP, kicking somewhere between 4 and 6 million people off the program.3

After children, women are the biggest SNAP recipients,4 relying on it to provide food for themselves and their families–including millions of kids who would otherwise go hungry. Congress could vote on the bill this week. Before they do, we have to show them that attacks on programs like SNAP will create intense public backlash. Journalists are just starting to write about the immoral cuts in this bill. If tens of thousands of us speak out now, we can expose what Congress is up to and make sure it’s defeated. Can you sign the petition?

Sign the petition to tell Congress: Hands off SNAP.
http://act.weareultraviolet.org/go/1115?t=3&akid=609.6000.jATLGd

Hunger is a serious problem in this country. Studies show that children who don’t have a reliable source of food were more likely to be hospitalized, have chronic conditions such as asthma, or have behavioral problems and trouble in school.5 Last year, 1 in 6 Americans struggled with hunger, including 16 million children. SNAP helped nearly 15% of people in the U.S. rely on the program to provide food for themselves or their families.6 According to the Center for American Progress, “nearly 72 percent of SNAP participants are in families with children; more than one-quarter of participants are in households with seniors or people with disabilities.”7

But conservatives in the House can’t stop attacking this vital program. In June, they introduced a bill to cut more than $20 billion from the program, but it failed in the House in part because extremists didn’t think it cut enough. Now, they’re back with this new bill that doubles the cuts to a devastating $40 billion.8 The bill would take free school meals away from 210,000 children and affect 170,000 veterans. In total, 22 million children and 9 millions seniors or people with disabilities would be hurt by the cuts. It would even cost 55,000 jobs in the first year alone.9

Conservatives are determined to slash funding to SNAP and other programs like it. We have to make sure this bill is defeated and show them that it doesn’t pay to attack the neediest Americans. If we generate enough outrage to get the attention of the press, we can make sure this bill is defeated. Can you sign?

Add your name.
http://act.weareultraviolet.org/go/1115?t=4&akid=609.6000.jATLGd

Thanks for speaking out.
–Nita, Shaunna, Kat, Karin, and Malinda, the UltraViolet team

Sources:

1. 30 Years of Tackling Hunger on a Bipartisan Basis Is in Danger of Failing This Fall, Center for American Progress, September 16, 2013

2. Infographic: Stop Slashing SNAP, Center for American Progress, September 16, 2013

3. 30 Years of Tackling Hunger on a Bipartisan Basis Is in Danger of Failing This Fall, Center for American Progress, September 16, 2013

4. Characteristics of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Households: Fiscal Year 2011, United States Department of Agriculture, November 2012

5. Child Development, Feeding America

6. More Than 1 in 7 Use Food Stamps in U.S., Wall Street Journal, March 2, 2012

7. 30 Years of Tackling Hunger on a Bipartisan Basis Is in Danger of Failing This Fall, Center for American Progress, September 16, 2013

8. Ibid.

9. Infographic: Stop Slashing SNAP, Center for American Progress, September 16, 2013

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