The Kansas Legislature Has Solutions To Fight Hunger

By Jami Reever, Kansas Reflector

March 4, 2021

The Kansas Reflector welcomes opinion pieces from writers who share our goal of widening the conversation about how public policies affect the day-to-day lives of people throughout our state. Jami Reever is the executive director of Kansas Appleseed Center for Law and Justice.

The Kansas Legislature should feel a profound sense of urgency to pave the way for a stronger, more resilient state. Ample programs and policy solutions already exist to strengthen not only our state’s response to the COVID-19 crisis but our state’s response to hunger, period.

As Kansans, our communities are what many of us hold most dear. Yet as COVID-19 continues to sweep through our communities, too many of us are left behind.

One in four Kansas children are food insecure, meaning they may not know where their next meal is coming from. In 2020, more than 29 million free meals were provided to Kansas kids through the Summer Food Service Program. Programs like this are critical in times of crisis, but more is needed to ensure families do not fall through the cracks.

A strong safety net is imperative to helping our communities face unprecedented challenges like those presented during the pandemic.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program helps ensure families have the support they need to put nutritious food on the table. By reversing restrictions on SNAP, the Legislature can significantly reduce hunger and hardship, making food assistance responsive to Kansans’ needs.

Already, numerous bills have been introduced that offer solutions and ignite hope for people who want to see our communities thrive. With each passing day this session, the opportunity for the Kansas Legislature to make these policy proposals a reality for Kansans dwindles.

Reversing the lifetime drug felony ban

No one deserves to lose their access to food, no matter their past. Currently, people with more than one drug felony are banned for life from receiving food assistance.

House Bill 2215 will repeal this law and give those recovering from addiction a better chance. This will also have implications for racial equity in Kansas. According to the Drug Policy Alliance, drug-related convictions “are not reflective of increased prevalence of drug use, but rather of law enforcement’s focus on urban areas, lower-income communities, and communities of color.”

Removing the child support enforcement cooperation requirement

Kansans applying for food assistance must indicate they’ll cooperate with child support enforcement. This may force them to come in contact with a former abusive partner, or someone who doesn’t have a connection to their child for other important reasons.

This risk prevents people, especially mothers, from applying for SNAP in the first place. House Bill 2371 — which passed in the House Children and Seniors Committee — would remove this barrier and improve access for parents working to support their families.

Reducing harm caused by COVID-19’s impact on employment

Many SNAP recipients must meet strict work requirements — otherwise, they are limited to receiving food assistance for only three months out of a 36-month time frame. In response to COVID-19, states can suspend time limits for unemployed or underemployed individuals.

Additionally, the Kansas Legislature allowed the state to apply for a waiver of time limits if high unemployment persists after time limits are reinstated on the national level.

Senate Bill 239 would allow Kansas to continue to utilize these waivers to extend food assistance access for thousands of Kansans.

SNAP is working hard for our families during this crisis. And we can make sure it keeps working for us, not just during the pandemic, but beyond.

Through its opinion section, the Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here.