Briefs

Harris, Gillibrand, Sanders Announce Bill To Fight Hunger, Help Families Afford Food Amid Economic Crisis

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Kamala D. Harris (D-CA) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), along with Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), on April 23, announced the introduction of the Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2020, legislation that expands and strengthens Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for vulnerable community members who are struggling to make ends meet. With food banks experiencing skyrocketing demand across the country, the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has drastically increased the need for SNAP to combat food insecurity. This effort builds off of work done by Congresswoman Alma Adams in the House.  

The Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2020 is endorsed by California Association of Food Banks, Western Center on Law and Poverty, MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger, Hunger Free America, Coalition for Food Security Puerto Rico, Public Interest Law Project, California, among dozens more groups and organizations.

The Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2020:

-Increases Benefits. Increases the baseline for SNAP benefits by approximately 30%. This better aligns with how a household needs, and allows for a more nutritional diet.

-Eliminates Eligibility Limits and Unrealistic Barriers. Eliminates time limits for people struggling to find work from receiving SNAP benefits.

-Expands Benefits For Territories. Stops discrimination against those who live and work in U.S. territories by transitioning them to SNAP and treating them as if they were states. 

A one-pager on the bill can be found here, closingthemealgap.

Reporters Desk

Recent Posts

Join the Parade of Trees Gala

  Join the Parade of Trees Gala at the Dalmatian American Club, Nov. 14. This…

4 hours ago

Port of Long Beach Cargo Volumes Steady Through October

  The Port of Long Beach is moving cargo ahead of the pace achieved last…

5 hours ago

Page Against The Machine November Events, Veteran’s for Peace and Poetry Readings

Page Against The Machine invites you to celebrate the victories where we find them (or…

1 day ago

Long Beach Announcements: Community Meeting on Marine Debris and Trash Capture and Homelless Count Volunteers Needed

City of Long Beach to Host Community Meeting on Marine Debris and Trash Capture System…

1 day ago

Labor Caucus Urges Starbucks to Reach First Contract With Workers

The letter was signed by 88 House Democrats.

1 day ago

Supervisors to Explore Ban on Predatory Solicitation Around County Buildings

The report alleges that the Downtown LA Law Group paid recruiters to aggressively target people…

1 day ago