Trending in #SNAP

This month, Senator Elizabeth Warren of MA introduced an initiative that targets hunger and food insecurity on college campuses. The bill would increase the eligibility of college students for SNAP nationwide.

1. In her tweets, Senator Warren outlines that this Act would expand access to SNAP and increase SNAP outreach to students while requiring the USDA and the Department of Education to connect students to SNAP. The bill is sponsored by Kamala Harris, who is also running for the Democratic Candidacy.

   My College Student Hunger Act with @RepAlLawsonJr would:
   ❌ Expand access to SNAP for more low-income students
   ❌ Increase outreach to eligible students
   ❌ Require @usedgov & @USDA to connect eligible students with SNAP

   — Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) July 17, 2019

   Reactions on Twitter varied, but many people related to the experience of being food insecure while in college, and others lamented it.

   How wonderful! Working at food banks, campus food pantries were controversial bc people assumed college kids had $$, when in fact so many are broke and spending every $ on tuition, housing, etc. Increasing SNAP to this population would help students graduate and thrive.

   — Tarn Allen (@tarnita77) July 17, 2019

   I live in Santa Barbara,CA. We have 2 colleges here. Papers often have stories of how students are not able to afford food. Heartbreaking. Let's fix this! Also here..70% of poor kids stopped going to get free summer lunches - they are afraid of ICE. Is this America? 😠😢

   — Kathy King (@blissbelle) July 17, 2019

2. Other sources shared additional data about food insecurity on college campuses:

   Great to have leaders in the House and Senate introduce legislation like the #ClosingtheCollegeHungerGapAct, STOP Campus Hunger Act, and College Student Hunger Act to address #foodinsecurity on college campuses for #todaysstudents. pic.twitter.com/BJJTGhvVNc

   — Higher Learning Advocates (@HigherLearnADV) July 17, 2019

3. Similarly, Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut introduced a bill called Closing The College Hunger Gap Act, which he announced on Twitter. This bill would require federal data collection on food and housing insecurity.

   Too many college students are forced to decide between paying for food and getting an education. Today, I intro'd the Closing the College Hunger Gap Act with @RepJahanaHayes so that we can begin to fix this crisis.https://t.co/ZDZ9skYH1q

   — Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) July 11, 2019

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