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Hunger and the Coronavirus

The COVID-19 pandemic presents an era-defining challenge to our nation and our communities.

As the outbreak spread, Congress responded with good initial steps, passing legislation that provides immediate cash assistance to low- and middle-income households, including Pandemic Unemployment Insurance Assistance (PUA) through December 2020 to workers.

The recent bill also provides global response funds to meet increasing international humanitarian needs. That said, more must be done to ensure the most vulnerable among us, who are hit the hardest by the pandemic, do not fall between the cracks of society.

Tell Congress immediately to boost Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamps) maximum benefits by 15 percent to ensure the vulnerable populations in the United States have access to the resources they need.

SNAP benefits help people buy enough food and the purchases stimulate the economy. Every $1 increase in SNAP benefits generates more than $1.50 in economic activity. It’s estimated that $1 billion in new SNAP benefits issued during a recession raises GDP by $1.54 billion and supports 13,560 jobs.

Urge your senators and representatives to increase SNAP benefits to help families cope with the economic downturn that is accompanying efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Nutrition

Millions of children around the world struggle to get proper nutrition. In the U.S., the hungriest time of the year for children is summertime when they no longer have access to school meals.

Today, 22 percent, or 149 million, of the world’s children are not growing as they should. And being dangerously thin continues to threaten the lives of 7 percent—or 49 million children under the age of 5.

Congress has the opportunity through legislation to change the course of the lives of millions of children in the U.S. and abroad. They just need the political will to make it happen.

All children deserve the opportunity to live a healthy life and reach their full potential. Join us in making this opportunity a reality!

Migration and Immigration

Immigration is a hunger issue. People who make the decision to leave their home and come to the United States generally have few other options. Central America’s Northern Triangle countries—Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras—are among the poorest in the world, with very high levels of hunger and malnutrition.

Any truly effective immigration policy must include long-lasting solutions to the factors that force people to migrate: hunger, malnutrition, extreme poverty, and violence.

As our country continues to debate immigration reform, we must acknowledge that the United States cannot have a comprehensive immigration strategy without supporting the efforts that countries make to help their own people survive and thrive.

This year, Congress has the opportunity to strengthen U.S. development and humanitarian assistance by investing in foreign assistance funds to Central America and to work to ensure poverty-reducing programs continue in the region.