The Farm Bill is a large piece of legislation that authorizes most federal policies governing food and agriculture programs, including SNAP (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). The current Farm Bill expires on September 30, 2023, and as the first step in the reauthorization process, Congress has already begun holding hearings and listening sessions.
At the Coalition Against Hunger, we know that SNAP is the cornerstone of the nation’s nutrition and food security safety net, helping to put food on the table each month for 42 million low-income participants nationally and serving 1.9 million Pennsylvania families. SNAP has been proven to:
- Decrease poverty and food insecurity
- Improve health and education outcomes for participants
- Support the economy and quickly respond to crises such as disasters and economic downturns
SNAP is a crucial support for millions of American families, including children, seniors, and individuals with disabilities. SNAP must be protected from additional restrictions in the upcoming Farm Bill, and there are many ways that SNAP could be improved to better support low-income families. Learn more here, and see below for what we are asking Congress to prioritize, in order to protect and strengthen SNAP, in the upcoming Farm Bill.