Fight Against Trump's Plan to Remove Food Stamps

During President Trump’s term, he proposed a closing of a supposed “loophole” that enables states to give benefits to those would (otherwise) be ineligible by raising or eliminating income and asset limits. The Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue claims that this rule would allow integrity to be “restored” to the program while reducing costs and governmental oversight. By doing so, however, 3 million people could lose their food stamp benefits entirely and 265,000 schoolchildren would lose their free lunches (only able to get them back if they reapply). Recently, Trump introduced a redacted plan that would cut 19% of households on food stamps while increasing benefits for 16%. This is aimed mainly at northern states (such as New York) as the plan would take into consideration heating costs to lower benefits. To further inflame communities, Trump proposed on created more stringent work and income requirements, and as Kate Leone, the chief government relations officer at the advocacy group Feeding America said, “This latest proposal would take 568 million meals per year from the tables of families who need food assistance, forcing families struggling with hunger to choose between heating or cooling their homes and putting food on the table.” This is harmful not only to the low income people of New York City (by which 1.7 million New Yorkers who live in poverty), but to all families who rely on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in the country. I want the students at Pace to realize how dangerous this solution is, and to immediately counter-act it. Share this petition to gain the grassroots support; together we can provide food security to those who are in need.