Trending in #SNAP

This month the federal government published a final rule enacting significant cuts to the SNAP program. With the rule scheduled to go into effect on April 1, 2020 some policy makers are advocating for the new change while others are speaking out against this new rule. Additionally, a new hashtag arose, #MyFoodStampStory, where people elevated the importance of SNAP and how the program aided them in their time of need.

1. Raquel Martin, a Washington D.C. correspondent for Nexstar Media Group, spoke with Brandon Lipps of the USDA’s Deputy Under Secretary about how the new policy could possibly strip 700k of food stamps. However Brandon insists the safety net is still there, stating, “States have the option to exempt 12% of their population. Individuals don’t have to go to work tomorrow. They can get three months of benefits without any requirement and at that point, they just have to begin volunteering”.

   TODAY: I talked to @SenSherrodBrown, the @CenterOnBudget and @USDA about the impacts of new #foodstamp work requirements.#NexstarDC https://t.co/ZwroKpsBkq

   — Raquel Martin (@RaquelMartinTV) December 6, 2019

3. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi released a statement opposing the new rule stating “SNAP is the country’s most effective anti-hunger initiative, providing a critical lifeline to more than 36 million hard-working Americans across the nation.” and “House Democrats unequivocally oppose this hurtful and dangerous rule and will continue to safeguard SNAP to ensure all Americans can put food on the table”.

   SNAP is our country’s most effective anti-hunger initiative. The USDA’s cynical new rule does nothing to close the income inequality gap and instead threatens to take food away from millions of Americans. House Democrats will not be silent. #HandsOffSNAP https://t.co/m8DDWqrZqo

   — Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) December 4, 2019

5. In response to this new policy, a community of people came together under the hashtag #MyFoodStampStory to share their stories of living on SNAP to destigmatize the stereotype of people who use the program. Various people of all ages and backgrounds in different situations shared their stories of living on SNAP.

   Have you had to use food stamps to help your family? Please share your stories.
   
   We need to destigmatize this, and help people understand that this is not about lazy people not working hard, but about individuals and families in need. #MyFoodStampStory

   — Elad Nehorai (@PopChassid) December 5, 2019

   When I was a child - with two young siblings - we needed 'regular' food stamps (now SNAP) and WIC to have food on the table. As a young adult relearning how to walk after a back injury, worker's comp wasn't paying and I ran out of savings; food stamps were how I was able to eat.

   — Alicia Noel (凤兰）🌱🍚🍅🛰 (@aventureralicia) December 5, 2019

   Ten years ago, I was a teaching assistant who didn’t get paid in the summer, with 3 young children. Suddenly I was divorced. It took me a year to find a higher paying job, and my kids and I would have starved if it weren’t for food stamps. #MyFoodStampStory

   — Ellen Scalf (@ellenscalves) December 5, 2019

   Served as an @AmeriCorpsVISTA in 2008-2009. Rent was $475. Car insurance was $250. Plus gas. My stipend was $500 every two weeks. Initially didn’t want to be on “the dole.”
   
   If I hadn’t had SNAP, I wouldn’t have been able to eat at all. SNAP helped me serve in rebuilding my city.

   — Samuel J. Cook, III, | CPT, USTFCCCA (@samueljcookiii) December 5, 2019