Organizations urging MD senators to call for more SNAP funding

MARYLAND – Some Maryland organizations are urging senators to boost SNAP funding to keep those impacted by the pandemic fed, and boost the economy. “For every dollar that the US government allows to be spent through the SNAP assistance program to help people buy food, $1.80 goes right back into the economy. So, it provides a huge economic stimulus,” said Food Research and Action Center president Luis Guardia.

Guardia says SNAP is the first line of defense against hunger. “SNAP is the nation’s first line of defense against hunger. It provides support to almost 37 million people and it gives people a monthly allotment that they can spend at the grocery story to buy for their families,” said Guardia.

Guardia tells 47 ABC that he and the other organizations are asking for an increase to the SNAP minimum and maximum benefits – and revising some of the qualifications. “We’re looking forward to seeing things that can also help these programs out on a more systemic basis,” said Guardia.

Guardia says that when people are able to use the SNAP program, it boosts the economy. “When people have more money to spend on food, they can spend it on other things, and that generates more state revenue for sales tax. So, states need revenue, states need economic growth, and SNAP can help with both,” said Guardia.

Guardia also added that households of color are more vulnerable to food insecurity because of systemic inequality. “There’s been a lot of conversation going on in our country about what we can do to address some of the systemic barriers and some of the systemic problems that are generating a lot of racial strife and racial injustice and economic inequality,” said Guardia.

FRAC says they’ve been working for more than 50 years to help people with food insecurity. Guardia tells 47ABC that the government should invest in SNAP to help both those in need and provide insurance for the economy. “They really should be tied into economic indicators, that way there is a built in mechanism so that where certain economic indicators trigger, more help is needed. It’s there, because what happens is when those things aren’t there and it has sunset, we’re in the position where we are now, where we have to continue to make a point that this is something that will have to come up and be legislated,” said Guardia.

Categories: Coronavirus, Local News, Maryland, Top Stories