By Jeanie Donovan
More than 3.5 million Texans, including nearly 2 million children, rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to ensure that they don’t go to bed hungry at night. Although the program has long been a reliable and effective part of the safety net, the importance of SNAP was magnified in the wake of the recent economic recession. This session, our nutrition policy team will be tracking any and all legislation that would affect SNAP, especially any attempts to restrict or complicate the program.
Despite the effectiveness of SNAP in reaching vulnerable individuals and families in Texas, there are a few ways the program could be made more effective, like implementing some long-needed updates to the eligibility requirements. The modifications would make the program easier for the state to administer and help low-income Texans access this critical program.
We will also be following any legislation that would affect the smaller, but similarly critical Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program. WIC is a nutrition assistance program that helps pregnant women, new mothers, and their young children stay nourished and healthy through pregnancy and early childhood. CPPP is committed to ensuring that legislators are aware of their importance of WIC in their district and that the program remains strong and adequately funded.
Stay tuned to the Better Texas blog for updates on all things food this session.
