HARRISBURG, Pa. — With more people facing food insecurity during the COVID pandemic, anti-hunger advocates are urging Congress to increase Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
The HEROES Act, originally passed in the House last May, would raise the maximum benefit under SNAP by 15% through September of next year.
But there has been no increase in the benefit in COVID relief bills passed by Republicans in the Senate.
Amy Hill, director of community engagement for the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, said since the pandemic began they’ve seen about a 50% increase in the number of people asking for food assistance, many of them for the first time.
“The 15% would help put a few more healthy things on the dinner table that really is going to make a big, big difference for the families who participate,” Hill emphasized.
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