Panetta (CA-20), Alma Adams (NC-12), and 117 other Members of Congress introduced legislation to address the growing crisis of food insecurity among college students. The Enhance Access to SNAP Act of 2023 or EATS Act of 2023 permanently expands Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility to millions of college students experiencing hunger daily.Burdensome "work for food" rules unfairly restrict access to SNAP for students and impede student learning, health, and stability. While temporary statutory authority created public health emergency exemptions to the general SNAP college student eligibility provisions, those exemptions have expired.
According to the Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice food insecurity impacts 39% of students at two-year institutions and 29% of students at four-year institutions. Additionally, 75% of Indigenous, 70% of Black, and 70% of American Indian or Alaska Native students across two- and four-year institutions experienced basic needs insecurity, especially food insecurity. U.S. Senator Kristen Gillibrand (D-NY) is introducing companion legislation in the Senate.
“College students across the nation are going hungry, skipping meals and can’t afford to make ends meet - it’s unacceptable. No student should have to choose between food and their textbooks,” said Costa. “Our legislation eliminates barriers and expands SNAP eligibility for college students, so they get the nutrition needed to be successful.”
“Ensuring students who are struggling with food insecurity have consistent and regular access to nutritious food is a crucial element of academic success. Removing the employment element and counting college attendance in the eligibility requirements for SNAP would be a significant improvement for our students,” said Dr. Dilcie Perez, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic & Student Affairs, California State University. “Without this change, many students are forced to make choices between eating, studying, or going to work. The CSU welcomes the changes proposed in the EATS Act.”
“Too many of our students struggle to meet their basic needs, including food insecurity, which disproportionately impacts our students of color and low-income students," said Dr. Daisy Gonzales, Interim Chancellor of California Community Colleges. "As a major barrier to the total cost of success in the California Community Colleges, we are tackling this issue head-on at the state and campus level, but we need federal support. The EATS Act would give states and campuses a critical tool to fight student hunger, by expanding eligibility for SNAP benefits (also known as CalFresh) on a permanent basis. The California Community Colleges are pleased to support this measure and look forward to working with congressional leaders to ensure its passage – because hunger should not be an impediment to any student’s ability to attend and succeed in college.”
Congressman Jim Costa
