Today’s environment is unlike anything our nation has ever experienced. We are on the brink of an economic and food security disaster.

Bill Frist and Mark K. Shriver

USA Today | As a nation, we have a moral and economic obligation to address child hunger, food insecurity and avoid economic collapse in the wake of COVID-19. While we have different political viewpoints, we strongly agree that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is one of the most effective tools we have to fight the looming health and economic crises facing our great country.

The Senate is at a critical decision point as to how we use this tool. That’s why together, we are calling for a temporary 15 percent increase in SNAP benefits, bound to economic indicators, in the next federal coronavirus relief package.

Even in the best of economic times, far too many Americans struggle to put food on the table. This is especially concerning for families, where children need nutritious food to grow up healthy and strong.

Today’s environment is unlike anything our nation has ever experienced. We are on the brink of an economic and food security disaster that will impact every citizen, but disproportionately affect vulnerable individuals including children, the elderly, rural Americans, Black, indigenous and people of color.

For years, the number of hungry children was declining. But, a new Save the Children report shows that many children now face even greater risk. New estimates from Northwestern University based on Census Bureau data indicate the percentage of families who are considered food insecure has increased during the pandemic, is much higher than during the Great Recession, and, of great concern, disproportionately affect children and families of color.

Read the full article here: https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2020/08/05/covid-19-has-led-surge-child-hunger-heres-how-we-can-help-column/5580099002/