Target: Brooke Rollins, Secretary of U.S. Department of Agriculture
Goal: Restore ability of grocers to provide financial relief to SNAP recipients.
Over 40 million people rely on the assistance provided by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to keep themselves and their families fed. The federal government’s refusal to pay all or part of these benefits during the government shutdown is being challenged in court while Americans across the country remain in limbo for their basic sustenance. Unfortunately, rather than help these struggling individuals, America’s leaders have made their situation worse.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture sent out a notice to grocers nationwide ordering them not to offer any type of discount to SNAP recipients during the shutdown. Stores that had begun providing a break to recipients were forced to withdraw this assistance. Apparently, helping out needy community members when leadership has failed is somehow a “violation” of “equal treatment.”
Sign the petition below to demand the USDA drop this arbitrary dictate that is inflicting more pain on Americans already enduring immense hardship.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Secretary Rollins,
Inequality is a major driver of hunger, so the USDA’s “equal treatment” excuse for denying tens of millions of people the help of their local grocers is audacious and unconscionable. Grocery store operators themselves are suffering from the lack of SNAP dollars. If they want to extend a helping hand to their most at-risk community members in the form of discounts, the federal government – which has already failed these people – should not stand in their way.
SNAP’s Equal Treatment Rule was intended to protect recipients and prevent price gouging. Stop warping this protection and stop punishing the 11 million children and tens of millions of adults who are the real victims of Washington’s cold-hearted and cold-blooded ineptitude.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Pixabay
