Coalition Tues 6/8, action alerts/sign on letters, Find Your Funds and HIP webinars + fantastic Project Bread Globe oped!

New EATS Act Organizational Sign-On Form: Here is a link to a new organizational sign-on form for the Enhanced Access To SNAP Act of 2021 (EATS Act) sponsored by U.S. Rep. Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), This bill would fully eliminate the SNAP work-for-food rules for college students. If you’ve signed onto our previous form, please fill this new one out as well. The MA Hunger Free Campus Coalition is hoping to get a strong showing from Massachusetts – so please sign on!

New England Council hosting a Zoom Meeting on June 16th with Senator Warren’s staff on her recently filed Student Food Security Act.

The New England Council’s Higher Education Committee is hosting a zoom meeting with Abby McCartney, Legislative Assistant to Senator Elizabeth Warren, to discuss the Student Food Security Act. Senator Warren introduced the Student Food Security Act in May. The bill would make permanent the temporary expansion of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to low-income college students – notably SNAP for students who are eligible for work study, have a $0 “expected family contribution,” meet the financial eligibility for a maximum Pell Grant (even if not filed a FAFSA), or are an independent student. It would also collect data on food insecurity on college campuses.  A copy of the bill, Senate 1569, and current co-sponsors is HERE.   The zoom presentation is Wednesday, June 16  at 2:00pm. You  can RSVP Here

Written Testimony to Support Rep. Vargas’ FAFSA Bill: State Rep. Andy Vargas (House Lead on School Meal Debt and Hunger Free Campus Bill), has filed legislation that would require Massachusetts students to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) before graduation in order to make college a more affordable option for students.  (The bill allows students and parents to opt out). Approximately 30% of students who do not complete the FAFSA would have been eligible for a Pell Grant.

The hearing for the bill, H.1367, is tomorrow, June 8. But, you have time to submit written testimony! You email your testimony to the Joint Committee on Higher Education Staff this week (or any time before the bill has an Executive Session) to House staffer Rosalind Jordan (rosalind.jordan@mahouse.gov) and Senate staffer Yael Langer (yael.langer@masenate.gov). A bill fact sheet is attached as well.

Summer PEBT news - remind families to keep their PEBT card(s)

• all school aged who have gotten PEBT in the past (since Spring 2020!) except for kids who graduated in 2020 or who moved out of Massachusetts (over 600,000 students)
• kids under 6 who are part of a household enrolled in SNAP (about 88,000 young kids) 

Please join a webinar on June 9th from 1:00-2:00pm titled “HIP Outreach and Advocacy: What role can my organization play?”

Organized by Project Bread and led by partners at Regional Environmental Council, The Food Project, Groundwork Lawrence, MA Food System Collaborative, and Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition, this session is intended for anyone working with SNAP clients who would like to understand how they can support the work of local food organizations and advocates across the state to promote the Healthy Incentives Program among their clients and in their communities. Please share this invitation widely with your networks! 

Register here: projectbread.org/hipoutreach

Globe Op Ed: Food insecurity is on the decrease, but a return to ‘normal’ is not an option

Huge kudos Erin McAleer, ED Project Bread for her powerful Op Ed in last week's Boston Globe.  Please amplify this Op Ed in your social media and networks with Erin’s calls to action in her Op Ed below:

At the federal level, it’s crucial to make permanent many of the changes that have been made during COVID, like the 15 percent increase in SNAP benefits, and EBT cards for kids when out of school. SNAP should be available for all families in need, including immigrants, which is why the five-year waiting period to access SNAP for eligible immigrants should be eliminated.

At the state level, efforts to connect people to nutrition programs must continue. Passing legislation to close the SNAP Gap would be a huge step, streamlining the process of accessing these programs through a common application. There is also School Meals for All, recently filed legislation that would be the first in the nation to allow every student who wants or needs a school breakfast or lunch to receive it at no cost to their family and with no requirement to sign up or provide income or other information.

FRAC Action Alert - including two sign on letters for organizations, deadline 6/15
 

Please see below alert from our national partners at FRAC, and take action today!

Urge Congress to Support Legislation that Maintains Access to Healthy Meals for Children Year Round  FRAC urges organizations and individuals to weigh in with your Members of Congress and ask them to support legislation that would help ensure that children have access to the nutrition they need at school and at home.  The Universal School Meals Program Act of 2021 (S. 1530 / H.R. 3115) would ensure that every child has access to free nutritious meals at school, after school, during the summer, and at childcare through the federal child nutrition programs.  The Stop Child Hunger Act of 2021 (S. 1831 / H.R. 3519) would provide low-income families with children an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card to purchase food when schools close for five days or more, during the summer, school breaks, and unanticipated school closures (such as in response to a pandemic or a natural disaster). The American Families Plan also provides an important opportunity to expand Summer EBT permanently through upcoming legislative vehicles. Opportunity for Individuals – Alert to Members of Congress  Individuals can use the FRAC Action Network to easily send a pre-populated email, or craft your own, to directly reach Members of Congress in support of the Universal School Meals Program Act of 2021 and Summer EBT. Click here to access the FRAC Action Network. Opportunity for Organizations – Sign-on Letters  Local, state, and national organizations can sign-on in support of the aforementioned legislation through the following forms: Sign-on by June 15th to Support Healthy School Meals for All Sign-on by June 15th to Urge Congress to Permanently Extend Summer EBT Nationwide Combined, these opportunities would help ensure that no child experiences hunger at home or at school. Learn more about the bills FRAC supports here.   About Us FRAC is the leading national nonprofit organization working to eradicate poverty-related hunger and undernutrition in the United States. Visit our website to learn more. Contact Us Food Research & Action Center 1200 18th Street, NW Suite 400 Washington, District of Columbia 20036 (202) 986-2200 nsmall@frac.org Having trouble viewing this email? View it in your web browser.