We need to protect SNAP

Rebecca Hutchins
Sunapee
To the editor,

When Congress returns to D.C. next week they must prioritize the health and nutrition of our families by passing protections for SNAP (food stamps) in the Senate’s bipartisan, common-sense Farm Bill.

Unlike the House of Representatives’ Farm Bill, the Senate version protects our families from harmful and unnecessary barriers to access, like burdensome work requirements which adversely impact people who are disabled, sick, have caregiving responsibilities, or who are escaping an abusive relationship.

Nearly 70 percent of SNAP participants are in families with children. Research shows children who benefit from SNAP are likelier to have better health and educational outcomes as adults. The last thing American families and our economy need are policies that are balanced on the backs of our nation’s families or so-called “welfare reform” packages that will keep us from putting food on the table for our children. After all, investments in SNAP pay off! The Congressional Budget Office found that SNAP has one of the largest “bang-for-the-buck” among a broad range of policies for stimulating economic growth and creating jobs.

Our elected leaders can help our families be strong and healthy by adopting the Senate’s SNAP provisions in the Farm Bill.

Rebecca Hutchins

Sunapee