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| Friend, A drug conviction should never be the basis to deny a person their most basic needs. Yet, for decades Congress has placed a lifetime ban on people with felony drug convictions from accessing the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP or food stamps). Repealing this cruel ban is one of our main priorities for this Congress. Today, we just took a major step forward by collaborating with Senator Cory Booker, Senator Raphael Warnock, and Congressman Steve Cohen to introduce the RESTORE (Re-Entry Support Through Opportunities for Resources and Essentials) Act. It fully repeals the federal ban and ends the ability of states to continue to deny SNAP eligibility due to a felony drug conviction. We are fighting for it to be included and passed in the Farm Bill, which is being negotiated right now by Congress. Tell your Members of Congress to support the RESTORE Act so that no one goes hungry because of a past drug felony conviction. Denying people and their families access to food has had disastrous consequences, depriving them of the support they need to remain healthy and survive. That’s why DPA has been leading the coalition in support of repealing the drug felony ban on SNAP. Imposing a lifetime ban on people with felony drug convictions from receiving food stamps is cruel, unfair, and counterproductive. These policies only make it harder for families who are already struggling to put food on the table. It disproportionately harms women and people of color. It also punishes children – because when a parent is made ineligible for SNAP, their family receives a much lower overall household benefit. Access to programs such as SNAP provides crucial support to families. And it’s proven to help formerly incarcerated individuals successfully transition back into society. It’s past time to end this cruel ban. With the RESTORE Act, we have a real chance to do it. But we need your help. Please take action now to build support for this new bill in Congress. Sincerely, Hanna Sharif-Kazemi Policy Coordinator, Federal Affairs Drug Policy Alliance |
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The Drug Policy Alliance depends entirely on private donations to fund our work to end the war on drugs and promote new drug policies grounded in science, compassion, health, equity, and human rights. Your support is crucial – thank you! Donate now. Drug Policy Alliance 131 West 33rd St., 15th Floor, New York, NY 10001 |
