ADVISORY:
Sen. Lesser, Advocates, Impacted Residents to Promote Statewide SNAP Program
Tomorrow, State Senator Matt Lesser, Senate Chair of the Human Services Committee, will hold a press conference alongside legislators, advocates and impacted residents to support legislation that would address food insecurity and shortfalls in the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), due to funding cuts passed by the Trump administration in the federal republican budget.
The legislation will be receiving a public hearing shortly after the press conference.
Senate Bill 497 moves $40 million from the Federal Cuts Response Fund, established in Special Act 26-1, to create a transitional assistance fund. This fund would be used for a state-funded SNAP program for residents impacted by the new federal eligibility requirements:
- A homeless person or person at risk of homelessness
- An adult diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) who is not otherwise classified as disabled
- A young adult who is aging out of the foster care system
- An adult who is a caretaker for a child between the ages of 14-18
- An adult ages 55-64
- An asylum-seeker, refugee or other immigrant with a visa or pending visa with a immigrant status as victim of human trafficking or domestic abuse
The proposal also ensures that veterans who are not able to meet the new federal work requirements do not risk having their SNAP benefits reduced, it increases reimbursement rates for Meals on Wheels, a critical senior nutrition program and creates a Medicaid waiver program.
Who:
State Senator Matt Lesser, Senate Chair of Human Services Committee
State Senator Paul Honig, Senate Chair of Veterans Committee
State Representative Jaime Foster, House Chair of the Veterans Committee
Coralys Santana, The Connecticut Project Action Fund
Barbara Gandia, impacted resident from Bristol
Alison Weir, Executive Director, Connecticut Veterans Legal Center
Matthew Dillon, Attorney, Connecticut Legal Services
Marisa Rodriguez, impacted resident from New Britain
Dr. Molly Markowitz, Pediatrician, CT-American Academy of Pediatrics Chapter
What: Press Conference on a Statewide SNAP Proposal
Where: Hearing Room 1D in the Legislative Office Building
When: Tuesday, March 17 at 10 a.m.