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We are barreling toward a true crisis for children right now. The ongoing government shutdown is threatening supports and services that are critical to child and family well-being, and Congress needs to act now to avoid further harm.
There are multiple funding cuts and delays happening all at once, which taken together are escalating the threat to the safety of children. SNAP food assistance has been delayed, despite court orders to release funding for EBT benefits, and the USDA plans to only fund about half of SNAP benefits while the shutdown continues. This delay and cut to SNAP funding means that millions of children, caregivers and others will go hungry just as their neighbors prepare for the Thanksgiving holiday.
At the same time, healthcare costs are skyrocketing for families that purchase insurance plans through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces; on average, families will pay double what they paid for premiums this year. Some may have to drop health insurance. For the first time in its 60-year history, Head Start centers around the country have missed their federal payments on October 1 or November 1, resulting in closures of centers that offer child care, meals, and other important services that have lifted children and families over the past half century. And finally, funding for heat assistance to households in your state is being delayed and will continue to be delayed just as the weather becomes colder in many parts of our country.
Millions of children and families are relying on many of these programs at the same time. Parents and caregivers are contending with less money for food and heat while also losing their affordable child care and health insurance. Families are very worried and the potential for loss of life grows daily as long as the government shutdown remains unresolved.
Congress and the President must act now to restore funding for food assistance, healthcare, Head Start, and heat assistance. It is past time for our nation’s leaders to come together to negotiate a path forward that serves families and children, before a dire situation turns catastrophic for some of our most vulnerable people.
Take Action:
Use the button below to tell your Representative and Senators to act now to end the shutdown and protect the programs that save children from severe harm at the hands of our government.
This time, we ask you to use this link to find your State Senator and State Representative. They have a direct relationship with U.S. Members of Congress and U.S. Senators. Call and ask them to demand that Congress end the shutdown because children in your state are feeling the pain.
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