| Dear John, |
| Big news out of Washington, where last night Congress passed a continuing resolution that ends the longest government shutdown in history, bringing relief to millions of families who use SNAP to put food on the table. Importantly, this deal includes year-long funding for SNAP, WIC, and school meals, giving millions of kids and families the certainty they need. You can read our full statement here. |
| For children and families across the country, this is more than just a headline. SNAP helps ensure millions of kids have enough to eat, and the past weeks of uncertainty have highlighted how important yet fragile our food assistance programs are. It’s also clear, now more than ever, that SNAP remains our nation’s most powerful, irreplaceable anti-hunger program. |
| Part of the legacy of this shutdown and the historic lapse in SNAP benefits is the confusion and disruption it caused for families and states, which were forced to manage the distribution of November SNAP benefits with conflicting guidance from USDA. The result: an unnecessary and avoidable patchwork of experiences for millions of families. Regardless of how states managed this crisis, we’re committed to ensuring every eligible family receives their full November SNAP benefits as quickly as possible. |
| Now, as we move forward, it’s time to focus on protecting kids and families for the long term. That means strengthening SNAP so every family has reliable access to nutrition, reversing cuts like those in H.R.1 that will increase hunger and hardship, and making sure policies put children’s well-being first. |
| While we can all take a breath today, the work ahead is clear: we must keep up the momentum in Congress to ensure every child grows up with the food, resources, and opportunity they deserve. |
| — Team No Kid Hungry |
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