CHRISTINE C.

QUINN
SPEAKER

THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK City Hall

NEW YORK, NY 10007

TELEPHONE (212) 788 - 7210

May 10, 2013 Hon. Debbie Stabenow Chairwoman, Agriculture Committee U.S. Senate 133 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Hon. Frank Lucas Chairman, Agriculture Committee U.S. House of Representatives 2311 Rayburn HOB Washington, DC 20515 Hon Thad Cochran Ranking Member, Agriculture Committee U.S. Senate 113 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Hon. Collin Peterson Ranking Member, Agriculture Committee U.S. House of Representatives 2109 Rayburn HOB Washington, DC 20515 Dear Chairwoman Stabenow, Chairman Lucas, Ranking Member Cochran, and Ranking Member Peterson: As members of the New York City Council, we urge you to pass a Farm Bill that preserves a fully funded (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) program for the health and wellness of our city residents. Hunger remains a growing problem in our communities. In December 2010, enrollment in SNAP topped 1.8 million in New York City and has remained at this historically high level since. SNAP is a critical safety net for these New Yorkers, helping families put food on the table while giving children the chance to receive a balanced diet. Yet for many, benefits run out before the end of the month, forcing families to rely on emergency food programs that are already stretched beyond capacity. If the proposed cuts go into effect, the burden on the emergency food system will simply be unsustainable. In addition to providing necessary assistance to food insecure families, SNAP stimulates our local economy, as every $1 in benefits generates $1.80 in economic activity that supports our neighborhood supermarkets, corner stores, and farmers markets.

The Senate Agriculture Committees plan to cut $4.1 billion over 10 years by limiting the coordination of SNAP with the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) would have devastating and disproportionate impacts in New York City. Nearly 40 percent (190,000 households) of the Heat and Eat benefit recipients affected by this cut are low-income New York City residents, who already struggle to keep food on the table. The reduction in their SNAP benefits an average of $90 per month will result in an annual loss of 70 million meals in New York City alone. The bills increased funding for the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) would only offset New York Citys loss by six million meals. When combined with disturbing plans from the House to eliminate as much as $20 billion in SNAP funding over the next 10 years, these proposals are even more alarming. As the effects of the sequester are being felt across our city impacting the Emergency Food and Shelter Program, WIC, Meals on Wheels, Head Start, and beyond we must strengthen our safety net when we have the opportunity to do so. In a city where rising numbers of our residents find themselves struggling to pay the bills, we know that SNAP cuts would be incredibly damaging to the health and wellbeing of New York City residents. Funding for this program is vital and should be increased or, at the very least, maintained. Thank you for your consideration of this issue. Sincerely,

Christine C. Quinn Speaker

Annabel Palma Chair, General Welfare Committee

Helen Diane Foster Chair, State & Federal Legislation Committee

Maria del Carmen Arroyo Chair, Health Committee

Michael Nelson Council Member

Margaret Chin Council Member

Rosie Mendez Council Member

G. Oliver Koppell Council Member

Albert Vann Council Member

Daniel Dromm Council Member

Domenic M. Recchia, Jr. Council Member

Letitia James Council Member

Ruben Wills Council Member

Stephen Levin Council Member

Gale A. Brewer Council Member

Jessica Lappin Council Member

Peter Koo Council Member

Mark Weprin Council Member

Fernando Cabrera Council Member

Jimmy Van Bramer Council Member

Joel Rivera Council Member

Diana Reyna Council Member

Darlene Mealy Council Member

Lewis Fidler Council Member

Leroy G. Comrie Council Member

Mathieu Eugene Council Member

Donovan Richards Council Member

Inez E. Dickens Council Member

Deborah Rose Council Member

Melissa Mark-Viverito Council Member

Brad Lander Council Member

Jumaane D. Williams Council Member

Julissa Ferreras Council Member

Sara M. Gonzalez Council Member

Vincent J. Gentile Council Member

Karen Koslowitz Council Member

Elizabeth Crowley Council Member

Daniel R. Garodnick Council Member

Andy King Council Member

James Vacca Council Member

Eric Ulrich Council Member

James Gennaro Council Member

Daniel j. Halloran Council Member

David Greenfield Council Member

Charles Barron Council Member

Erik Martin-Dilan Council Member

Robert Jackson Council Member

Ydanis Rodriguez Council Member

cc: New York Congressional Delegation