As federal lawmakers debate changes to the annual farm bill, the top official at hunger-fighting coalition Feeding Texas is calling on them to make it easier, not harder, to access food aid.
In exchange for supporting an increase in the debt ceiling, Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy wants to require moreCurrently, people between 18 and 50 are subjected to a three months limit on SNAPif they can't prove that they're working. McCarthy proposes expanding the upper age limit to 55 — a move critics say"This is just simply adding to the number of the population that actually lose their access to SNAP when they fail to meet those requirements," Cole said.
Feeding Texas, which is now in Washington lobbying lawmakers, also wants them to strike down states' ability to consider personal assets such as vehicles when evaluating applicants for food-stamp eligibility. Additionally, the organization is asking Congress to improve access to SNAP benefits for those enrolled in colleges and universities.
Cuts to SNAP would mean another surge in demand for the food bank, which is already stretched thin due to the incredible need that arose during the pandemic, Cooper added. He said he fears federal cuts could result in the nonprofit being forced to turn people away.