The White House last night released an executive order titled “Reducing Poverty in America by Promoting Opportunity and Economic Ability.” This order gives federal agencies, including the Treasury, Agriculture, Commerce, Labor, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, and Education departments 90 days to propose new regulations that will cut funding and push poor Americans from the nation’s welfare programs.
The following is a statement from Share Our Strength’s Senior Vice President Lisa Davis:
“With this Executive Order, the White House is looking to restrict benefits that help struggling Americans trying to get back on their feet.
Research shows that in programs like SNAP, most participants are either already working, looking for work or exempt from work due to age, disability or caregiving. There is no evidence that more stringent work requirements increase employment or economic security.
Rather than increasing employment and reducing poverty, such changes would likely make it harder for poor Americans to get food, medical care and shelter, and would increase medical costs, hunger and homelessness.
Making sure people have the ability to work in strong, good-paying jobs is a path out of poverty. To do this, we need to ensure people have food, health care and stable housing as well as affordable child care, access to transportation to get to work, strong job training, and real opportunities to find work. It is not achieved, however, by kicking people out of critical programs if they have lost their jobs, lack the skills to be hired, or can only find low-paying jobs with limited hours.
We call on Members of the Cabinet to recognize that helping American families get back on their feet starts with making sure they have something to eat, a place to live, and the ability to get basic medical care.”
ABOUT NO KID HUNGRY
No child should go hungry in America, but 1 in 6 kids will face hunger this year. Using proven, practical solutions, No Kid Hungry is ending childhood hunger today by ensuring that kids start the day with a nutritious breakfast, are able to get the nutrition they need during the summertime, and families learn the skills they need to shop and cook on a budget. When we all work together, we can make sure kids get the healthy food they need. No Kid Hungry is a campaign of national anti-hunger organization Share Our Strength.