For Immediate Release 

Media Contact: Nathan Garcia ([email protected]) 

 

Frankfort, KY (February 28, 2024) – Save the Children Action Network (SCAN), the political voice for kids, calls for urgent action from lawmakers to reject the passage of House Bill 367 (HB 367), which threatens to remove access to crucial food assistance provided through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for families and children across the state.  This bill, if signed into law, would severely reduce access for families that rely on anti-hunger programs, limiting economic benefits, especially in rural communities. 

Harold Dixon, an assistant fire chief at Lost Creek Volunteer Fire Department and Save the Children Action Network volunteer, emphasized the devastating impact of this bill on communities like Lost Creek, where programs like SNAP are lifelines for struggling families: “As someone deeply rooted in my community, I’ve seen firsthand how SNAP helps families put food on the table and ensures children have access to nutritious meals. HB 367 threatens to unravel these vital supports, leaving families like mine without the assistance they desperately need.” 

With 13% of Kentucky’s population participating in SNAP, including 256,000 children, any reduction in access would have a devastating impact for the communities that need anti-hunger programs the most. SNAP, in particular, is an important stimulus for local economies, generating $1.54 for every dollar that households redeem through the program. That money generates economic benefits for farmers, leads to more jobs and improved wages locally, and is compounded by the long-term economic benefits from reduced food insecurity. For thousands of families, the detrimental effects of this bill extend beyond SNAP, jeopardizing access to free school meals for children, bogging down application processes for public assistance programs, and leaving Kentucky ill-prepared for future economic downturns. 

“HB 367 is a callous disregard for the well-being of Kentucky’s children and families facing hunger,” said SCAN Kentucky State Manager Sara Hall. “By imposing eligibility requirements that disqualify struggling households, ignoring the needs of communities with limited job opportunities, and punishing families attempting to climb out of poverty, this bill threatens to harm our economy and the future of our state.” 

Save the Children Action Network urges lawmakers, especially the members of the Senate Economic Committee, including Sens. Jason Howell (SD 1), Robby Mills (SD 4), Gary Boswell (SD 8), Reginald Thomas (SD 13), Rick Girdler (SD 15), Max Wise (SD 16), Brandon  Storm (SD 21), Shelley Funke Frommeyer (SD 24), Phillip Wheeler (SD 31), Mike Wilson (SD 32), and Denise Harper Angel (SD 35) to prioritize the well-being of Kentucky’s children and families by rejecting HB 367 and voting no to protect the future of our state 

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Save the Children Action Network (SCAN) was created in 2014 as the political advocacy arm of Save the Children, to be the political voice for kids. We work to ensure that the issues critical to children’s lives and futures are given top priority by our elected leaders, building bipartisan support to make sure every child has a strong start in life.  

Learn more about SCAN here: https://savethechildrenactionnetwork.org/