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Jackson also noted that
“over 40 million people participate in SNAP, including over
1.5 million in Ohio.” The program helps one in eight
Ohioans, mainly seniors, children, people with disabilities
and low-wage workers. “Over 11,000 Ohio employees of Walmart,
for instance, depend on SNAP because their wages are not
enough to support families,” said Jackson.
Rev. John Walthal, pastor
of Mt. Ararat Missionary Baptist Church, spoke of the
differences between the House version and a bill that is
making its way through the U. S. Senate. “Fortunately, the
Senate version of the farm bill that reauthorizes SNAP
recognizes the value of the program and takes a different,
more bipartisan approach to continuing the program – the
Senate bill focuses on strengthening SNAP and doing no harm
to the families that depend on food stamps to feed
themselves and their families.”
The Senate bill, said
Walthal makes targeted investment in SNAP for certain groups
such as those with disabilities and Indian tribes, and
increases efficiency and oversight “so that resources are
better used.” In addition, the Senate bill expands the
existing pilot program within SNAP to inform approaches to
job training and other employment services to help more food
stamp recipients get back into the workforce.
Rev. Robert Birt, pastor
of Glass City Church of Christ, pointed out th e unfairness
of cutting food assistance after granting the richest
households and companies a huge tax break. “Politicians in
congress continue to focus on partisan agendas that put
politics ahead of families,” said Birt.
Birt mentioned the
congressional attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act and
to end Medicaid “as we know it.” Emphasizing the recent
efforts to cripple the ACA’s pre-existing conditions clause.
Miata Murphy, a student at
Miami University carried that theme further by noting the
proposed cuts Congress has made to health care, food stamps,
education, housing “and just about every other program to
pay for the massive tax bill they passed last year.”
The richest one percent of
households, said Murphy, “will receive a total tax cut of
more than @84 billion in 2019 alone … that amount could pay
for the total cost of nutrition assistance benefits through
SNAP – which will support 40 million people and is expected
to be only $58 billion.”
Arthur Walker , co
president of TUSA and member of Friendship Baptist Church,
urged Congress to repeal the GOP tax cuts for the rich and
corporation rather than take food out of the mouths of
working families
“Rather than cutting our
safety net, Congress should make sure the rich and
corporations pay their far share of taxes, so we can help
families who need services,” said Walker.
Anton Parks, a member of
the Re-entry Coalition and Brothers United, spoke of the
hypocrisy of giving large corporations tax breaks when so
many of their employed rely of food stamps to survive.
“Walmart is getting a tax cut of $2.2 billion this year
under the new tax law, yet in Ohio alone, more than 11,000
Walmart workers and family members make so little they
qualify for SNAP; McDonalds’ is getting a tax cut of nearly
$1 billion a year, yet 10,000 of its Ohio employees and
their families rely on SNAP.
Parks, an ex-offender and
a single father, told of his own efforts to re-adjust to
society after release and how, without food stamps, he
“would not have been able to get my life back together.”
Rev. James Willis, pastor
of St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church and president of TUSA,
blasted Congress for pretending to be tough on crime while
“the real crime is turning over our hard-earned tax dollars
to corporations and the rich while we watch children being
ripped from their parents’ arms at the border because of the
president’s ‘zero-tolerance’ policy that treats all
immigrants – even kids – as criminals and while taking
second chances from returning citizens, people with
pre-existing conditions and people struggling in low-wage
jobs.”
Willis urged Congress to
listen to all constituents and focus on the bipartisan
Senate bill to help families put food on the table and
“increase efficiency in the program.”
Visiting Toledo for the
event was Lorain Councilman Angel Arroyo, Jr. who touched on
the suffering of immigrants and split families, along with
the neglect Puerto Rico has endured while trying to rebuild
after Hurricane Maria. “It’s up to us to demand that all our
elected officials represent our families by stopping attacks
on our families and stepping up to champion fundamental
values like keeping families together, making sure everyone
has enough to eat and promoting second chances for people
who have made mistakes and starting over.”
Lastly, Marcia Dinkins,
director of TUSA, summed up the organizations demands for
elected officials, she said:
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“Congress needs to stop playing games with our families
lives – whether it’s hungry families, immigrants or people
who have been in prison …”
·
“We encourage Senators Brown and Portman to put aside
differences and support the Senate bill that protects food
stamps for Ohioans and makes modest improvements that
strengthen the program …”
·
“Republicans should stop using immigration as a wedge issue
that derails positive action on SNAP, CHIP and healthcare …”
·
“Republicans should stop adding riders to bills that
unfairly target incarcerated people for additional
punishment …”
Dinkins urged citizens to
call members of Congress. “This fight doesn’t end with us,”
she said in summary. “It starts with us.”
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