To the Editor:
Many Americans are feeling left out of America’s economic prosperity. Why then would the new Congress be gearing up to make things far worse for people struggling to make ends meet? The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamps) helps families in our community — many of them working in low-wage jobs — put food on the table. Yet politicians want to gut this vital program by converting it to a “block grant” to states. This will result in massive benefit cuts and hungry children and families being turned away.
SNAP and other nutrition programs not only help families financially, they have been shown time and again to have remarkable effects on the well-being of children. Children who benefit from these programs are healthier, do better in school, achieve more and have increased economic opportunities later in life.
We need to build on the success of these programs instead of dismantling them. I urge our members of Congress to stand up for hungry children and families. President-elect Trump and our members of Congress should reject any proposals to cut or restructure SNAP and other nutrition programs and instead invest in making sure no American goes hungry.
Sister Jane McCarthy, OSF
Clinton
