You probably already know that Paul Ryan want's to reduce funding for SNAP and turn it into a Block Grant Program.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for America's increasing population of hungry children. Click on the link to see just how poor you have to be to qualify.
Then check this chart that shows just how poorly Americans are paid:
No wonder so many need help. I blame low-paying chains for much of America's working poor situations. Greed!
What you might not know that there are 13 Good Hearted Republicans in the Senate that felt that cutting funding for SNAP was/is a bad idea.
RAND PAUL introduced the Amendment to the Agriculture Bill to turn SNAP into a Block Grant. You see, Rand wants kids to enjoy freedom. In this case, the freedom to be hungry.
So who are the GOP Good Gals and Guys in the Senate. Here they are:
Alexander (R-TN)
Boozman (R-AR)
Brown (R-MA)
Cochran (R-MS)
Collins (R-ME)
Corker (R-TN)
Hoeven (R-ND)
Johanns (R-NE)
Lugar (R-IN)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Portman (R-OH)
Roberts (R-KS)
Snowe (R-ME)
Perhaps you can send your GOP Senator a THANK YOU NOTE if he/she is on this list.
So, who are the Heartless Purveyors of Children's Hunger? Here's the list of GOP Senators that voted to cut SNAP and make it a Block Program.
Ayotte (R-NH)
Barrasso (R-WY)
Blunt (R-MO)
Burr (R-NC)
Chambliss (R-GA)
Coats (R-IN)
Coburn (R-OK)
Cornyn (R-TX)
Crapo (R-ID)
DeMint (R-SC)
Enzi (R-WY)
Graham (R-SC)
Grassley (R-IA)
Hatch (R-UT)
Heller (R-NV)
Hutchison (R-TX)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Isakson (R-GA)
Johnson (R-WI)
Kyl (R-AZ)
Lee (R-UT)
McCain (R-AZ)
McConnell (R-KY)
Moran (R-KS)
Paul (R-KY)
Risch (R-ID)
Rubio (R-FL)
Sessions (R-AL)
Shelby (R-AL)
Thune (R-SD)
Toomey (R-PA)
Vitter (R-LA)
Wicker (R-MS)
AMERICA'S Child Hunger Facts
Facts of Child Hunger in America
Nearly 14 million children are estimated to be served by Feeding America, over 3 million of which are ages 5 and under. i
According to the USDA, over 16 million children lived in food insecure (low food security and very low food security) households in 2010.
More than 20% of the child population in 37 states and D.C. lived in food insecure households in 2010. The District of Columbia (30.7%), Oregon and Arizona (both 29.0%) had the highest rates of children in households without consistent access to food. iii
In 2010, the top five states with the highest rate of food insecure children under 18 are the District of Columbia, Oregon, Arizona, New Mexico, & Florida. iii
In 2010, the top five states with the lowest rate of food insecure children under 18 are North Dakota, New Hampshire, Virginia, Minnesota, & Massachusetts. iii
Proper nutrition is vital to the growth and development of children. 62 percent of client households with children under the age of 18 reported participating in the National School Lunch Program, but only 14 percent reported having a child participate in a summer feeding program that provides free food when school is out.i
54 percent of client households with children under the age of 3 participated in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).i
32 percent of pantries, 42 percent of kitchens, and 18 percent of shelters in the Feeding America network reported "many more children in the summer" being served by their programs.i
In 2010, 16.4 million or approximately 22 percent of children in the U.S. lived in poverty. iv
Research indicates that hungry children do more poorly in school and have lower academic achievement because they are not well prepared for school and cannot concentrate. v
In fiscal year 2009, 48 percent of all SNAP participants were children. vi
During the 2010 federal fiscal year, 20.6 million low-income children received free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program. Unfortunately, just 2.3 million of these same income-eligible children participated in the Summer Food Service Program that same year. vii