Speaker Fecteau Introduces Bill to Protect Access to Food for Maine Families
LD 2122 would ensure funding for SNAP benefits in the event of a federal shutdown
AUGUSTA – Maine House Speaker Ryan D. Fecteau (D-Biddeford) today introduced LD 2122, An Act to Prevent Negative Impacts from Federal Funding Changes to and Fund Eligibility Determinations and Outreach for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which will make sure our state gets the federal food assistance funds we were expected to receive before Congress passed Trump’s “Big Bad Bill” and develops a contingency fund to ensure continued funding in the event of future federal shutdowns or disruptions.
“It’s gut-wrenching to see these deep federal cuts to food assistance, which impact our most vulnerable neighbors, take food away from kids, veterans and seniors across Maine and the country,” said Speaker Fecteau. “It’s just plain wrong. I’m going to do everything I can to make sure Maine families get the food they need. These benefits, and our neighbors in need, are worth fighting for.”
The bill proposed by Speaker Fecteau will:
Establish a nonlapsing SNAP contingency fund to be used to provide SNAP benefits in the event the Federal Government fails to provide SNAP funding to Maine.
Direct DHHS to implement a system to reduce our SNAP “error rate.”
Support existing SNAP outreach contractors with a state funding match, as well as funding for SNAP outreach contractors to support and improve communications to SNAP recipients
Organizations that work to ensure food security for Maine people spoke in strong support of the bill at Thursday’s public hearing.
“SNAP helps put food on the table for over 170,000 Mainers,” said Anna Korsen, Deputy Director of Full Plates Full Potential. “We cannot choose a path that fails to protect SNAP at a time when many are struggling to afford basic groceries and necessities. Hunger shouldn’t be up for debate. LD 2122 is the first of many responsible choices we can make to protect Mainers, and I urge our policymakers to support this critical bill.”
“I believe that this bill, LD 2122, if it passes, will help tremendously the needs of our local hungry people,” said Don Bisson, President & Manager of the Biddeford Food Pantry. “This bill would ensure that SNAP benefits would not be stopped in any way, even if political viewpoints change.”
The Committee on Health and Human Services will work on the bill in the coming weeks.
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