Federal Advocacy Update

This Labor Day, Tell the Trump Administration Don't Cut Food Assistance for Working Families
 
The Trump Administration recently  proposed new, misguided, rules for SNAP/CalFresh.  If enacted, USDA estimates the rule would cut 3.1 million people off of SNAP. In California, that would mean 250,000 or more low-income households would lose access to CalFresh.  These cuts would fall disproportionately on low-wage working families.

At a time when we celebrate the tremendous contributions of labor to our national economy and society, it is disappointing to see the administration launching another attack on working families struggling to make ends meet.

Many Working Families in California Need Help Making Ends Meet
The proposal would eliminate a longstanding and widely adopted state option known as Broad-based Categorical Eligibility,  or "Cat El."  If enacted, the new rules would take away food assistance from working families who have incomes slightly above 130% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines ($32,640 per year for a family of four). In California and many states, the federal SNAP income limits do not reflect the true level of need, and families who fall into the gap between a living wage and federal program eligibility limits need access to SNAP to prevent hunger and poor nutrition. Eliminating Cat El would cause low-wage working families to lose help paying for food when they earn a little more take-home pay. By contrast, the current rules incentivize workers to accept additional hours and modest pay raises without jeopardizing their nutrition assistance.

The proposal would also, illogically, cut off food assistance for working families that have even modest savings. Building a small savings cushion helps low-income families break the cycle of poverty by preparing for an unforeseen financial emergency, such as a car repair or sudden unemployment during an economic downturn, which could push them deeper into poverty or into homelessness. Ending Cat El would p revent families from moving towards economic security by cutting off help for those with financial savings above only $2,250, or $3,500 for households that include a member who is over age 60 and/or living with a disability. 

How Did We Get Here?
The 2018 Farm Bill, passed on a bipartisan vote last December, explicitly rejected similar proposed changes. This new proposal is yet another attempt by the Trump administration to circumvent Congress to implement policies that hurt low-income Americans struggling to make ends meet. 

What Can You Do? 
Please join us this Labor Day weekend in telling the Administration to withdraw this proposal that would harm working families and take their #HandsOffSNAP!

1) Submit public comments in opposition to the proposed rule.
CFPA has drafted CA-specific model comments that you can customize to your organization's specific mission, geographic region, and population served.  Comments must be submitted by Monday, September 23rd to be counted.
  • CFPA template comments doc
You can submit your comments directly to the Federal Register, or through the online comment portal set up by our partners at the Food Research & Action Center.


2) Learn more about Categorical Eligibility and who it helps.
The Governors of 17 states, including Governor Gavin Newsom, recently submitted a letter to USDA strongly opposing the proposed rule. Read the letter here, and thank Governor Newsom ( @GavinNewsom) for his strong stance in support of protecting food assistance for vulnerable Californians. Amplify your message by using the hashtag #HandsOffSNAP in your social media communications.

Read our California partners' joint statement on the proposed rule to cut off benefits from over 250,000 Californians struggling to make ends meet and put food on the table. 

Read up on how Categorical Eligibility works and who it helps from our partners at the Center on Budget & Policy Priorities and our most recent blog post.


3) Share calls to action and stay tuned for updates.
CFPA will be sending out calls to action each week leading up to the comment due date of September 23rd. Share calls to action with your networks, and make sure you don't miss any updates by signing up for our Action Alerts.

Questions?  Contact Jared Call [email protected]  
 
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Share Your Thoughts
Each year, we ask individuals and organizations across California, "What change do you want to see?" Please help us understand the challenges and successes affecting you and your community. 

CFPA is committed to fighting hunger, poor nutrition, and their root causes through policy change. We cannot do this work without you. Your input will help shape our future priorities to improve the lives of struggling Californians.

This year's survey should take about 10 minutes to complete.  Please share your thoughts and enter to win a $100 gift card!
 

Help Spread the Word
We rely on feedback from Californians with lived experiences of hunger and poverty, among many others, to pursue the facts, perspectives, and understanding we need to guide policy change. We want to hear from as many folks as we can.  Please help us share the survey because what we understand, we can change.

Your Input In Action
Want to see how input from last year's survey shaped CFPA's priorities for 2019? Take a look at our current  federal,  state legislative,  state administrative, and  policy research agendas.

Questions? Contact  Tia Shimada  [email protected]