Gov. Tony Evers and 16 other governors signed and submitted a letter on Wednesday voicing opposition to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) proposed rule that could throw as many as 12,000 Wisconsin children off food stamps.
“We can all agree that no one should be forced to go hungry in the U.S, especially children. Yet, the Department’s analysis acknowledges that its proposal may worsen hunger at a time when nearly 16 percent of households with children are experiencing food insecurity,” reads the letter to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue. “We should be doing more to help these families, not less.
Adding insult to injury, the governors continued, this proposed rule would eliminate automatic enrollment for kids in SNAP families in the free and reduced-price lunch and
breakfast programs.
breakfast programs.
“Everyone knows that a child can’t learn when they’re hungry, but these changes would make that a reality for thousands of kids in our states and across the country,” the letter said.
SNAP has proven to be an effective anti-hunger programs in the country since it was established 55 years ago. The USDA’s proposal is expected to affect more than three million people across the United States, including 40,000 Wisconsinites.
