The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) is a convener, connector, and catalyst for change, increasing the political and economic power of people with disabilities.

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ACTION ALERT!
Tell Congress: Don’t Cut Off Our Food Assistance!

Calls to the House of Representatives Needed TODAY!

The U.S. House of Representatives plans to vote soon on a bill to cut off or reduce basic food assistance under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for roughly 2 million people across the nation.

Roughly 1 in 4 non-elderly SNAP beneficiaries, or 11 million people, have a disability. SNAP helps people pay for groceries and put food on the table. It’s vital that SNAP be there for people with disabilities and their families when they need it.

Instead, the House reportedly plans to vote this week on a bill that would subject millions of people who rely on SNAP to sweeping, harsh new work and reporting requirements (the timing may change, if proponents are not sure they have the votes). These changes would punish people who lose their jobs and can’t find a new one, can’t meet the potential new strict work or training requirements, or can’t get an exemption. Roughly 2 million people would see their benefits cut, or cut off, over 10 years – including many people with disabilities or chronic illnesses, and their families.

Action Needed

The changes to SNAP are part of the “Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018” (H.R. 2), also known as the “Farm Bill.” The Farm Bill is expected to come up for a vote this week, but this may change if proponents of the bill feel they do not have the votes.

Disability activists and organizations are urged to take action!
#HandsOffSNAP

Calls

Call your Representative and urge them to vote "NO" on H.R. 2, the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018, also called the Farm Bill.

Call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 or use the “Find Your Representative” lookup tool is available at: https://ziplook.house.gov/htbin/findrep_house.

Sample call script for disability advocates:

I’m [name], I live in [place], and Representative [name] is my Representative.
I’m calling to urge Representative [name] to vote no on H.R. 2, the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018, also called the Farm Bill.
I oppose the bill because it would cut off or reduce basic food assistance under the SNAP program for millions of people, including many people with disabilities and their families.
I ask Representative [name] to vote no on H.R. 2 and to instead work on a bipartisan Farm Bill that strengthens and protects SNAP.

Social Media

Use the hashtag #HandsOffSNAP to Tweet and post to Facebook and tag your Respresentative. Follow @ccd4pwd for easy retweets.

Sample Tweets:

You can look up your Representative at http://www.tweetcongress.org/tweeters.

RT if you agree: [@Your Rep.’s Twitter handle], Cuts to SNAP in the #FarmBill would hurt people with #disabilities. Please vote NO on HR 2! #HandsOffSNAP
Today, [you/your organization] says #HandsOffSNAP [@Your Rep.’s Twitter handle], please vote NO on HR 2 #FarmBill
The #FarmBill will cut off or reduce food assistance for people with #disabilities — [@Your Rep.’s Twitter handle] should vote NO on HR 2!

Sample Facebook Post

The House of Representatives plans to vote soon on a bill to cut off or reduce basic food assistance under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for roughly 2 million people across the nation. The bill subjects millions of people who rely on SNAP to new red tape, effectively punishing people who lose their jobs and can’t find a new one or can’t meet strict new requirements. People with disabilities are disproportionately impacted by these kinds of bureaucratic requirements and the disability community strongly opposes these changes! Join our Day of Action today, May 8, by contacting your member of Congress!