Laser Talk: Protect Hungry Children and Families - No Cuts to SNAP

Engage: Nearly 1 in 4 children in the U.S. (22.4 percent, 16.6 million children) are at risk of going to bed hungry tonight.

Problem: Studies show that children who are regularly hungry struggle in school, suffer from weakened immune systems, slowed and abnormal growth, and anemia.

Illustrate or Inform: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamps) is the first line of defense against hunger in America. The U.S. Census reports that SNAP lifted 3.9 million people out of poverty in 2011. Yet House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan just proposed to drastically cut SNAP by $160 billion over the next decade.

Call to Action: Will you talk to your party’s leaders and Agriculture Committee members, urging them to protect and strengthen SNAP?

(For House): Specifically, will you support Rep. McGovern’s resolution, H. Res. 90?

(for Senate): Will you oppose Senators Roberts’ proposal, S. 458?

More detailed request: Instead support a bipartisan, balanced approach to deficit reduction that includes revenues and protects critical investments in anti-poverty programs.

What Is a Laser Talk?

A laser talk serves as a useful starting point for your advocacy work, whether as a talking points during a town hall meeting or as a primer for face-to-face meetings with candidates and elected officials. Follow up with more information and evidence supporting your points. And of course, adapt a laser talk to reflect your own experiences and why you care about the issue! For more on how to create your own laser talk, see the RESULTS Activist Toolkit: Create and Deliver Your EPIC Laser Talk and see our Economic Opportunity for All campaign pages for more background on these issues.