FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 07, 2024
Contact: Emma Bittner
(972) 510-3395 | Emma.Bittner@younginvincibles.org
Progress in the Farm Bill is Hindered by the Exclusion of Student SNAP Access
(Washington, DC) – Last week, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) released a long-awaited Farm Bill proposal, The Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act, to strengthen equitable access and effectiveness to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
The Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act protects existing programs like the Thrifty Food Plan and removes barriers to access, such as for individuals with felony drug convictions and former foster youth. We applaud Chairwoman Stabenow on this progress, but the bill must go further and remove barriers for all eligible college students. One in three college students (34%) report having low or very low food security, and another 13 percent report only marginal food security. Often, food insecurity disproportionately impacts those from marginalized communities. Research also shows that college food insecurity is strongly associated with mental and behavioral health challenges, including depression and anxiety. The exclusion of students in this bill further exacerbates the already myriad barriers and struggles many students face in obtaining basic needs while pursuing higher education. It is essential that we create equitable pathways to SNAP in a bipartisan effort.
In response, Satra D. Taylor, Director of Higher Education and Workforce Policy and Advocacy at Young Invincibles said:
“Hunger should not be part of the American college experience. It is disappointing to see such robust bipartisan legislation exclude an immensely critical group like students from this narrative, who stand to benefit greatly from access to SNAP. We know this to be true based on states like California that have implemented state food assistance programs like CalFresh.
Students deserve not just to survive but to thrive as they earn a college degree and work to build upward social mobility. We must prioritize removing barriers to SNAP benefits and expand access for students immediately. Young Invincibles is dedicated to the success of young adults, and that starts with ensuring their basic needs are met.”
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Young Invincibles (YI) is a national advocacy and policy nonprofit organization focused on amplifying the voice of young people in the political process at the local, state, and federal levels. YI focuses on issues impacting young adults ages 18 to 34 in higher education, health care, economic security, and civic engagement. Our offices include Washington, D.C., California, Colorado, Illinois, New York, and Texas. For more information, please contact Emma Bittner at (972) 510-3395 or emma.bittner@younginvincibles.org