Dr. Ruiz Calls On Congressional Leadership To Prevent Hunger Cliff

Statement

Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) is calling on House and Senate leadership to prevent the looming hunger cliff when the federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) Deceleration expires on July 15, 2022. Federal hunger relief enacted under Families First Coronavirus Response Act is currently tied to the expiring PHE. In a letter to Congressional Leadership, Dr. Ruiz recently joined fellow members in urging Congressional action to extend key programs under SNAP that over 4.3 million Californians rely on for nutritional support beyond the current PHE.

"Recent supply chain issues, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and other factors pushing food price rises are exacerbating the challenges many Americans have in affording an adequate diet…. Hungry people can't wait," Dr. Ruiz and the Members wrote. "Taking these actions now can help avert a severe "hunger cliff' and promote food security and economic equity during COVID-19 and beyond."

With one in 10 U.S. households experiencing food insecurity in 2020, FIND Food Bank championed the letter and echoed the call for Congressional action.

"Hunger remains shockingly high in California, including the Coachella Valley desert region, and the larger economic and social impact will no doubt be felt for years to come. SNAP is the nation's first line of defense against hunger and enhances the purchasing power of millions of eligible households with low incomes. Even under normal conditions, it is not possible for food banks and emergency food providers to make up for gaps in the federal safety net -- for every 1 meal that food banks distribute, SNAP delivers 9. High food prices are squeezing family budgets and pandemic-related programs are fading away, and that's why it's crucial to strengthen and improve SNAP. California is facing a looming "hunger cliff" that could be extremely detrimental but one that is preventable. We are grateful to Congressman Ruiz for calling for an extension of the SNAP Emergency Allotments and the three SNAP marker bills that are crucial to preventing the looming hunger cliff," said Debbie S. Espinosa, President & CEO, FIND Food Bank.

Full text of the letter can be found here.

BACKGROUND

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 authorized the issuance of SNAP Emergency Allotments (EAs) while federal and state PHEs are in place. That Act also temporarily suspended time limits on SNAP eligibility for certain unemployed and underemployed workers and provided USDA with enhanced authority to allow changes to SNAP operations. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 increased SNAP access for college students during COVID-19.

However, once the current PHE ends, this much-needed relief will also expire, causing participating households to potentially lose $82 per person a month in SNAP benefits.

Today's letter calls for Congress to strengthen SNAP benefits in the long term so that families don't miss out on the benefits they need by extending the authority for issuing SNAP EAs beyond the current PHE.

Additionally, the legislation calls for the advancement of the following legislation:

The Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2021 to bolter SNAP benefits;
The Improving Access to Nutrition Act to end the time limit on benefits for unemployed and underemployed adults; and
The Enhance Access to SNAP Act of 2021 to end rules that prevent college students from accessing benefits.

Source