SB603

I am in favor of supporting SNAP benefits for low income families. This promotes healthy families, especially children. I am willing to pay taxes to support programs like this!

NH must help those in need and feeding our citizens is paramount

I support HB 603 as an effort to retain SNAP benefits for eligible Grantie Staters, while remaining concerned about the source of the designated fund transfer within DHHS. As a member of the NH State Commission on Aging, I am acutely aware of the impact of food insecurity on older adults. Hunger has known negative effects on physical and emotional health. Older adults with chronic conditions who are food insecure spent an average of $1,834 more on annual health expenditures than food-secure adults per CDC (2019). Thank you for your work on behalf of all New Hampshire residents. Hon. Polly Campion, MS, RN

No one should have to go hungry.

It is inexcusable to think that roughly 76,000 Granite Staters are at risk of losing access to nutritious food if the SNAP program is not funded. Current changes at the federal level have increased program operational costs, leaving those most vulnerable struggling with access to proper nutrition. As the health crisis continues to grow, food insecurity cannot be supported.

KEEP SNAP FUNDED. Funding of this program is essential.

This bill is essential for providing food security to low-income households.

New Hampshire is a wealthy state, but no amount of charity in this state can replace SNAP. Not only does SNAP provide 9 meals for every one that the NH charitable system provides, it is impossible for the 420 agencies in the states to replace SNAP's 154 million dollar capacity. If SNAP fails, the resulting demand will overwhelm New Hampshire's charitable food pantries and feeding programs. I work at the Nashua Soup Kitchen & Shelter. We have been seeing demand for our services increase for months now. When SNAP stopped a few months ago, we had to scramble to give out supplementary food boxes, which put a lot of strain on our staff and our resources. The private charitable food network does not have the capacity to serve everyone who is food insecure. SB 603 is a minor administrative investment that protects $154 million in federal resources.

This bill directs the department of health and human services to transfer funds as necessary to compensate for any reduction in federal funds received by the state for SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. I am in support of this bill. The SNAP program make a huge difference in the lives of so many of our residents. SNAP does not provide benefits in excess. Passing SB603 as it reads, is an important safeguard we should have.