No Kid Hungry Texas State Director Kathy Green on the impact of the White House rule to restrict Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility
Contact: Johanna Elsemore at jelsemore@strength.org
Earlier this year, the White House proposed a rule to eliminate the policy known as Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility (BBCE) from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). As a result, millions of low-income families will lose access to SNAP and school meals are in jeopardy for more than 500,000 children. According to a new report from Mathematica out today, the impact will hit Texas particularly hard, with 389,000 low-income individuals losing SNAP benefits, including 217,000 children.
The following is a statement from No Kid Hungry Texas State Director Kathy Green:
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“This new White House rule will have a disastrous effect on hundreds of thousands of Texans. Rolling back Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility will increase hunger and hardship for struggling families with children.
SNAP is the first line of defense in the battle against childhood hunger. The food provided by SNAP does much more than fill a child’s empty stomach; it helps that child grow up smarter, stronger, and healthier, and that means a smarter, stronger, healthier Texas.
The White House has proposed changes to SNAP that will end benefits for 217,000 children in our state, leaving them more vulnerable to hunger. We must not stand by and let that happen.”
Learn More:
Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility encourages and supports work and helps low-income families build financial stability and move toward self-sufficiency.
- Statement from Share Our Strength’s Senior Vice President Lisa Davis
- Share Our Strength blog post containing oral testimony as given by Senior Vice President Lisa Davis to the House Committee on Agriculture, Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations about the changes to Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility.