187 MA Orgs Letter to MA Delegation re Fed Nutrition Programs; HIP Funding Alert; 2025 Coalition Meetings

12/19/24

Currently, Congress is deliberating a legislative package to keep the government open beyond December 20th. Bipartisan bill language released this week included federal disaster relief, resources for farmers and - importantly to SNAP - continuation of federal dollars to replace stolen SNAP. As you get this email, Congress is deliberating its next steps...we will keep you posted.    

 

187 MA Organizations Urge MA Delegation to Protect/Defend Federal Nutrition Programs 

Thank you to many partners who signed on to this 12/12/24 letter! We know that it will take all of us, working closely together, to defend federal nutrition programs and other critical pieces of our nation’s safety net.To view the final letter, click here.  

 

Over the holidays, we encourage everyone to reach out to family and friends in other states to urge them to reach out to their Members of Congress to strongly support SNAP, Child Nutrition, WIC, TEFAP and other key nutrition nutrition programs. As Congressman McGovern frequently says in his #EndHungerNow speeches, as one of the richest nations in the world, no one should go hungry.   

 

USDA SNAP Rules for Certain Adults without Children

On 12/17/24 the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued final federal regulations implementing changes Congress made in 2023 to the SNAP 3-month time limit.These federal regulations affect individuals without children who are between the ages of 18 through 54, known as the ABAWD rules, “Able-Bodied Adults without Dependents.” 

 

We want Coalition members to know that there are many exemptions to the SNAP 3-month time limit including for veterans, unhoused persons, persons who’ve aged out of foster care, persons who have a disability or impairment that reduces their ability to work, and others. We will be discussing this topic in 2025. If you have any questions, please contact Vicky or Pat. 

 

HIP Funding Advocacy Alert:

As folks know, the HIP benefit was cut to $20/month for all SNAP households as of December 1st due to lack of state funding in the current fiscal year. The Mass Food System Collaborative's Campaign for HIP Funding is looking for both testimony and data from HIP farmer vendors about the impact the cut to HIP benefits is having on your businesses and organizations. 

 

If you are a HIP farm vendor, are you seeing decreased sales? Are you considering layoffs? What are you hearing from your customers? If so, please fill out this survey so that Mass Food System Collaborative can share the increasing impacts this cut is having with lawmakers (and they will share your story anonymously if you prefer). If it's easier, please email Becca Miller at rebecca@mafoodsystem.org

 

Next Coalition meeting/2025 Coalition meeting dates:

 

We hope you have a rejuvenating and restful holiday season with loved ones. Our next Coalition meeting is on Tuesday, January 28 from 10-11:30. Agenda and Zoom link to come in the new year. 

 

Here are the 2025 monthly meeting dates. All meetings are from 10-11:30 AM. 

  • Jan 28

  • Feb 25

  • March 25

  • April 22

  • May 27

  • June 24

  • July 22

  • No August meeting

  • Sept. 23

  • October 28

  • Dec. 2 (combination Nov/Dec meeting)