President Biden to increase federal food benefits among executive actions

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Washington Post

President Biden is expected on Friday to significantly increase federal food assistance for millions of hungry families among executive actions intended to stabilize the deterioration of the economy weighed down by the raging coronavirus pandemic.

Biden is asking the Department of Agriculture to allow states to increase Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits — commonly known as food stamps — and to increase by 15 percent benefits awarded through a school meals programs for low-income students started during the pandemic, according to Biden administration officials. That could give a family of three children more than $100 in extra benefits every two months, officials said.

A separate unilateral move aims to help get previously approved stimulus checks into the hands of Americans who haven’t received them yet. And another would ask the Labor Department to make clear that workers who refuse to return to working conditions that could expose them to the coronavirus should be eligible for unemployment insurance.

Brian Deese, director of the White House National Economic Council, told reporters on a call Thursday night that the measures are meant as only partial solutions, as the administration kicks off negotiations with Congress on its $1.9 trillion relief economic proposal. The U.S. economy has shown new signs of damage, particularly in the labor market. Last month, the economy lost jobs for the first time since the recovery began, and weekly jobless claims in January have remained at historic highs amid growing fears of long-term damage to the economy. Biden has inherited the worst jobs market of any president in modern history.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2021/01/22/biden-increase-food-stamps/

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Full headline: President Biden to increase federal food benefits among executive actions aimed at stabilizing U.S. economy

He was ready on day one and day two and day three!

[onetexan]

1. we've been so deprived of human decency with the previous admin

That its refreshing to see the restoration of empathy, compassion and care by the new one. Elections have consequences. Government has the duty to protect & take care of its citizens. Thank Goodness we have such a kind and good leader at the helms

[BumRushDaShow]

2. "Elections have consequences."

Exactly! To quote the ass Mickey Mouse Mulvaney right back to him - "Get over it".

[Cha]

3. Thank you President Biden!

It's so wonderful to be able to say that now!

Mahalo, BRDS!

[Roy Rolling]

4. Budget Watch

How long until Republicans complain about the budget? I hope it’s soon, Biden is soooo ready for that battle.

Now we know why the loony right complained so loudly about Biden’s 40 years of government service—he knows the levers of government an amateur like Trump didn’t.

The adults are in charge again.

[NoMoreRepugs]

5. President Biden - UDAMAN.

Littlehands - uweredadouche.

[gab13by13]

6. Oh Dear, the market is down a little,

how dare president Biden help poor people?

Do I need the sarcasm thingy?

[DeminPennswoods]

7. Glad there'll be extra money for SNAP

but $50/month isn't much when you think about it.

[BumRushDaShow]

8. I expect those funds would normally come out of the provisions in the Farm Bill

the last version having been passed in 2018 (technically due for renewal in 2023 since it is normally a 5-year programmatic and appropriations piece of legislation).

[DeminPennswoods]

11. Regardless, it's not much extra

nt

[niyad]

13. Please note that this is just a start..

[BumRushDaShow]

15. I would agree however

note that the U.S. Constitution states the following -

Article I

(snip)

Section 9.

(snip)

No money shall be drawn from the treasury, but in consequence of appropriations made by law; and a regular statement and account of receipts and expenditures of all public money shall be published from time to time.



https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/articlei

[George II]

9. Just as I suspected - as soon as he won he probably put an army of staffers on the job to start....

....writing up Executive Orders to reverse all the horrible things that trump did in the last four years.

This isn't his first time around the block - he's the PERFECT person for the job of President right now to mop up the mess that trump caused.

There are probably dozens and dozens of other Executive Orders in the pipeline ready to be signed in the next weeks, and he won't stop until we're back on our feet.

[MissMillie]

10. food boxes?

We were getting boxes filled w/ fresh produce for a while. It was a way for farmers to get their food to people, and a way for financially strapped people to get food.

Our local distribution stopped last month.

I hope it comes back. We're getting most of our veg from the frozen food section of the store. Of course, the fresh stuff is infinitely better.

[left-of-center2012]

12. I hope I get some of that

I'm 74, disabled, on S/S and I currently get $25 a month in EBT (food stamps).

[dalton99a]

14. Previous coronavirus relief bills did not expand SNAP

Previous coronavirus relief bills did not expand SNAP for the 40 percent of recipients who were already at the maximum benefit. Biden’s new order would allow states to increase SNAP emergency allotments for those who need it most, allowing an additional 12 million people to receive enhanced benefits.

Under Biden’s order, an electronic debit card benefit for students will increase by approximately 15 percent. The program is called Pandemic EBT and goes to students who would have qualified for free or reduced-priced school meals were school in session.

Perhaps the most significant change in this executive order is a reassessment of the USDA’s Thrifty Food Plan, the basis for determining SNAP benefits. Lisa Davis, senior vice president of Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign, said the metrics are out of date with the economic realities most struggling households face. The president will ask the USDA to consider beginning the process of revising the Thrifty Food Plan to better reflect the modern cost of a healthy basic diet.

“Any one of these in itself would be terrific, but if you bundle them together, these are indeed quite significant in terms of helping Americans get through one of the most terrible times in our lives,” said Catherine D’Amato, chief executive of Greater Boston Food Bank.

[BumRushDaShow]

17. Thanks for those details!

[roamer65]

16. My president.

I can’t wait until I see the pictures of the last President and First Lady visiting the WH.

I would hope former President Obama and the First Lady Michelle visit soon.

[Bayard]

18. More care for regular people

Nothing so far for the wealthy.

[Grasswire2]

19. Joe FDR Biden! nt