WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05) released the following statement after President Biden issued Executive Orders bolstering domestic nutrition programs and fighting hunger amid converging global health and economic crises. President Biden’s Executive Orders increase access to nutritious meals for kids by increasing P-EBT benefits by 15%, expand access to emergency SNAP benefit increases for low-income households, and require the USDA to act on Congress’s 2018 directive to update Thrifty Food Plan guidelines which underpin SNAP benefit levels.
“We are in the midst of a hunger crisis. 29 million Americans, and as many as 12 million children, are suffering from food insecurity while simultaneously enduring the global health and economic effects of COVID-19. These Americans – and especially our kids – deserve assistance. SNAP and Pandemic-EBT are two of our strongest tools to deliver food assistance and stimulate local economies,” said Congresswoman Hayes.
“The changes required by these Executive Orders are essential to ensuring families and children are not forced deeper into food insecurity simply because they are acting responsibly to protect themselves and their neighbors from this virus.
“These executive orders make it clear that eradicating food insecurity, bolstering SNAP, and expanding child nutrition programs are a priority of the Biden Administration. Like President Biden, I know exactly how crucial these programs are to getting a person or family through times of economic hardship. I look forward to continuing to work with the Administration and incoming Agriculture Secretary to ensure no American family lacks access to healthy foods.”
###
Rep. Jahana Hayes has been a public school teacher in Connecticut for more than 15 years and was recognized in 2016 as the National Teacher of the Year.
Rep. Hayes sits on the Committees on Education & Labor and Agriculture and proudly represents Connecticut’s 5th District.