First Focus Campaign for Children sent the following letter to the lead sponsors of The Food for Families in Crisis Act of 2020 in support of the legislation, which would help ensure that children and families receive nutritional meals by increasing the maximum SNAP benefits by 15 percent and ensuring the use of broad-based categorical eligibility so that even more families in need can access the program.

Excerpt from the letter:

Low-income families are especially at risk of food insecurity. Food insecurity can lead to fatigue and reduced immune response which is even more worrisome today. Over the long term, food insecurity can lead to “developmental, psychological, physical, and emotional harms” for children.[1] Yet many of the lowest-income families have not seen any increase in their SNAP benefits, nearly 40 percent, as benefits were only increased up to the maximum monthly amount.


[1] https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2005638