By Barb Arland-Fye
Editorial
The Israelites, newly arrived in the Promised Land, “ate of the produce of the land in the form of unleavened cakes and parched grain,” Joshua tells us in the first reading for the fourth Sunday of Lent. In their “ability to eat from the land of Canaan … we see God’s care manifested through the provision of food and the act of eating,” theologian Maria Enid Barga observes. Her insight in the “Workbook for Lectors, Gospel Readers, and Proclaimers of the Word” should propel us to advocate for God’s care as our state and federal leaders move toward decisions that will adversely affect hungry people in our midst.
Among actions and decisions that fall short of God’s care:
- The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) abruptly cancelled $500 million in funding for The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) nationwide. In Iowa, that eliminates “an estimated $3.8 million worth of food for food banks, food pantries and the people they serve,” the Iowa Hunger Coalition said in a March 21 statement. “Dozens of truckloads of meat, milk, cheese, and vegetables have been cancelled.” Our story in this week’s Catholic Messenger looks at the repercussions.
- Iowa House File 796 would direct our state to request a USDA waiver that would restrict eligible food purchases for the 260,000 Iowans participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This action would severely curtail the food choices of SNAP recipients. The proposed, long list of forbidden foods includes items that many typical households use: olive, vegetable and cooking oils, spices, seasonings, condiments, frozen prepared foods, pumpkin, sunflower and other seeds. Sadly, this bill is tied to the laudatory expansion of the “Double Up Food Bucks” program, which encourages purchase of healthy fruits and vegetables with SNAP funds.
- House File 978 would create work requirements for some Medicaid recipients, 75% of whom are already working. Those who are not working often face barriers such as lack of education, struggles with mental health, substance abuse or a criminal conviction, the Iowa Catholic Conference (ICC) reports. The bill also adds these requirements to SNAP. The ICC says the proposed law would affect “180,000 members of the Iowa Health and Wellness Plan, which is the ‘Medicaid expansion’ population.” If the federal government does not allow the requirements, Iowa would end the Medicaid expansion program.
- A proposed federal budget-cutting measure would reduce $230 billion or more from the SNAP program over 10 years. Common Good Iowa, a nonpartisan, nonprofit public policy organization, reports that some federal lawmakers want to require states to pay a portion of SNAP benefits for the first time. “To fund a portion of SNAP food benefits, Iowa would have only difficult choices: raise revenue, cut funding for other state services, cut SNAP benefits, further limit who is eligible, or enact some combination of these,” Common Good Iowa said. “Forcing states to help pay SNAP benefits would let federal policymakers in DC enact unpopular cuts while making someone else — state policymakers in Des Moines — decide which participants lose benefits,” said Common Good Iowa’s executive director, Anne Discher (commongoodiowa.org).
“SNAP improves overall health outcomes, reduces health care costs, and supports the well-being of children, older adults, and individuals with disabilities,” said River Bend Food Bank in a March 21 statement. The nonprofit serves 5 counties in eastern Iowa and 18 in western Illinois. “Every $1 in SNAP benefits generates up to $1.80 in economic activity,” the statement said. Additionally, “Early access to SNAP improves education and economic outcomes, interrupting the cycle of poverty” (riverbendfoodbank.org).
What can we do to ensure that children and adults who depend on SNAP receive what they need to thrive?
- Contact members of the Iowa Legislature (legis.iowa.gov/legislators) and ask them to support SNAP measures that benefit, not punish the poor and vulnerable in our midst. As faithful citizens, our Church believes that “government should give the needs of the poor and vulnerable special consideration” (Iowa Catholic Conference).
- Contact U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley (grassley.senate.gov), U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (ernst.senate.gov) and your U.S. representative (house.gov). Ask them about their position on the proposed funding cut and to spend some time with Iowa SNAP recipients, one-on-one, to understand their life experiences.
- Go to the Iowa Catholic Conference website (iowacatholicconference.org) for legislative updates and action alerts. Continue reading The Catholic Messenger for perspectives on the issues.
- Volunteer and/or donate to a food pantry, food bank or other hunger-fighting organization in your community.
- Pray that our state and federal government leaders, focused on government efficiency, will understand the human costs of their decisions.
In one of the intercessions for Evening Prayer, Third Sunday of Lent, we ask God,
“Help us to feed you in feeding the hungry.” Let us show God’s care in our country.
Barb Arland-Fye, Editor
arland-fye@davenportdiocese.org
