CT's Human Service Committee's Public Hearing on Food Security
- Lorenzo Jones
- Mar 13
- 3 min read
Connecticut's Human Services Committee will be holding a Public Hearing at the Legisltive Office Building and online.
S.B. No. 497 (RAISED) AN ACT PROTECTING FOOD SECURITY FOR VETERANS AND OTHERS AND MITIGATING FEDERAL CUTS TO NUTRITIONAL ASSISTANCE.
To mitigate federal changes in the supplemental nutrition assistance program with a transitional assistance fund, expand food security with a Medicaid waiver program and increase rates for meals on wheels providers.
Senate Bill 497 is Number 11 on the PUBLIC HEARING AGENDA
Senate Bill 497 Raised Bill Language
Banning the Box on Banning the Box on food!
Take action to move the Human Services Committee to vote YES on SB 497! Here's how:
Submit written testimony to the Human Services Committee
If you choose not to speak to the Committee members during the Hearing you can submit written testimony and it will be included as if you did testify in person. Click here to submit written testimony for the Public Hearing.
Contact Your Legislators even if they are not on the Human Service Committee.
You can also help by contacting your legislator directly, This will help as SB 497 moves through the other legislative Committees as well as the debates in the Senate Chamber and on the Floor of the House of Representatives. All the legislators wil look at the testimonies from the Public Hearing to get a feel for where the community stands.
Dear Human Services Committee Members,
I am writing to ask you to support SB 497, AAC Protecting Food Security for Veterans and Others and Mitigating Federal Cuts to Nutritional Assistance, because it would remove barriers to SNAP access for people currently disqualified for having probation or parole violations. As you consider this bill aimed at supporting food access for CT residents and families most in need, please also consider:
Formerly incarcerated people are twice as likely to experience food insecurity. Over 70% of women, and over 80% of Black women on probation, earn under $20k a year. Excluding them from food assistance, or discouraging them from applying, keeps food away from some of the people who need it most.
Because applications for assistance often threaten harsh consequences for misrepresentations or mistakes, simply asking about probation violations is likely keeping people from applying even when they are eligible.
Research shows that food security is linked to increased neighborhood safety, and has even linked SNAP access directly to reduced recidivism. Excluding people on probation from SNAP doesn’t just hurt those people; it hurts the whole community.
This issue is important to me because [...insert any personal reflection or story]
Everyone in our community deserves equal access to SNAP benefits and food, especially people working to successfully reenter and remain in our communities.
Thank you,
[Your Name]
FREE CT Fact Sheet on SNAP and Supervision Violations
For more information about this issue and the positive impact this policyt reform will have for our families.
A simple email or phone call expressing your support can make a meaningful difference! Cultivating Justice members are assisting people with these action steps. So if you need help to take action please contact Diana Martinez at CultivatingJustice@chicksahoyfarm.org.
Let's go!