We recently alerted you to a proposed rule that could deny 36,000 Alabamians access to food assistance under the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP). By changing SNAP’s categorical eligibility requirements, this proposal would deny or reduce nutrition assistance to almost 3 million struggling Americans. But it turns out it’s even worse for children than we thought. Click here to comment against this harmful proposal today. The proposal’s impact would reach beyond SNAP. Children in families who lose SNAP also may lose their free or reduced-price school meals. Appallingly, it turns out this proposed rule would put nearly twice as many kids at risk as originally estimated. The USDA now says this portion of the rule could harm 982,000 children nationwide, including an estimated 14,000 in Alabama. That’s almost twice as many as the previous estimate of 500,000. The comment period on this proposal previously had closed last month. But due to the USDA’s miscalculation, officials have reopened the comment period related only to the impact for school meals. The new comment deadline is Friday, Nov. 1. Please tell the USDA that Alabama children can’t learn while they’re hungry. Use FRAC’s comment portal here to submit a comment by Nov. 1. And remember to limit your comment to the rule’s effects on children and school meals. Otherwise, it won’t be counted. The USDA must read and consider every comment. So please share your thoughts today, and ask your friends and neighbors to do the same! | 
