Amid 'unprecedented' hunger, advocates urge Congress to boost SNAP benefits in COVID-19 relief
As hunger surges during the COVID-19 pandemic, millions more in the U.S. have turned to the Department of Agriculture's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, for relief -- formerly known as food stamps.
And according to food security advocates, if Congress does not reach a deal on a second COVID-19 stimulus bill, conditions for low-income families may become more dire -- particularly for households with children and families of color, who have been disproportionately impacted by hunger, per the latest U.S. Census data.
Since February 2020, there has been an increase nationally of participation in the SNAP program from about 37 million to 43 million by May, according to a study of USDA data by the left-leaning Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
"Congress has been fighting about an extra stimulus package since the summer and meanwhile, children are going hungry, families are worried about losing their homes," Lisa Davis, senior vice president of the No Kid Hungry Campaign, told ABC News. "If kids continue to go hungry, at this rate, it's because Congress chose this path."
It is unclear if lawmakers will reach a deal on COVID-19 relief ahead of the tight holiday deadline and whether it would boost food security measures.
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/amid-unprecedented-hunger-advocates-urge-congress-boost-snap/story?id=74610702&cid=clicksource_4380645_4_three_posts_card_hed
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