As of late yesterday, 22 Massachusetts organizations joined onto the national letter of the Food Research Action Center (FRAC) in opposition to the Senate proposal to cut billions from future SNAP/Food Stamp benefits to offset part of the cost of other legislative priorities. Food stamp recipients would face an $11.9 billion rollback of added benefits first approved as part of the giant recovery bill last year. That translates into a reduction of about $47 a month for a family of three beginning in April 2014 or $516 over the first 12 months. While we strongly support funding FMAP, we join with our West Coast colleagues in denouncing efforts to pass this bill by holding a bake sale with poor people's food!

A list of the current Massachusetts organizations signed onto the letter is listed below. FRAC, along with other national groups, strongly opposes using SNAP funding to pay for other programs -- regardless of the merits of those proposals. SNAP/Food Stamp cuts should never be used as a way to pay for legislation. To push back against these efforts, FRAC is circulating a national, state and community-based organization sign-on letter that has been signed by over 1,000 groups.

Action Needed:

Sign the National, State and Community-based Organizational Letter Opposing SNAP/Food Stamp Cuts (Deadline: Thurs., 8/5 at Noon ET for Senate; 9/15 final distribution to Congress). Click here or visit http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5118/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY... to view and sign your organization onto the letter. Congressional leaders and the White House need to hear a strong message from groups across the country that Congress should not be making it even harder for struggling families to purchase healthy food.Deadline: TODAY Thursday, August 5 at Noon ET. (The letter wil remain open until September 15 to distribute to the House upon its return from recess.)

Background on Proposals to Cut SNAP/Food Stamps:

The proposals would cut short a boost in benefits included in the Economic Recovery Act and return benefits to lower levels at which families often run out of food in the third or early in the fourth week of the month. The cut would increase hunger and obesity by making it even harder for struggling families to purchase healthy, adequate, food.

Taking money from the neediest seniors, children and households in America is not an acceptable way to pay for other legislative priorities - regardless of the merits of those proposals. Economists and lawmakers agreed that the higher benefit level is needed to fight hunger and grow the economy. This is an investment we should protect, not raid.

** Massachusetts organizations on the FRAC sign on letter as of August 4th:

• Abbott House
• Action Inc.
• Amesbury Council on Aging
• Beverly Bootstraps Community Services
• Catholic Charitable Bureau of theArchdiocese of Boston, Inc.
• Community Action Committee of Cape Cod and the Islands
• Emmaus Inc.
• Food Bank of Western MA
• International Institute of Boston
• Mass Law Reform Institute
• Massachusetts Association for Community Action
• North Suffolk Mental Health Association
• Our Neighbors' Table
• Partners for a Healthier Community
• Poor Peoples United Fund
• Project Bread - The Walk for Hunger
• Rosie's Place
• Sisters of St. Joseph
• South Shore Habitat for Humanity
• St. Joseph's Food Pantry
• The Open Door
• Worcester Food Policy Council