1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

Today I’m writing to ask you to co-sponsor and vote yes on the Opportunity to Address College Hunger Act, introduced again last year. College students are facing a hunger crisis that directly undermines their ability to succeed academically. Many students work full-time while attending classes and still can't afford consistent meals. This bill would expand access to SNAP benefits for students and help colleges establish on-campus food pantries and meal assistance programs. This is needed because qualifying for SNAP benefits is onerous enough. It’s time consuming, and students are worried about housing and health care as well. At all levels we know that when students are hungry, they can't focus in class, they're more likely to drop out, and we waste the investment we've already made in their education. This legislation is a practical solution that addresses a real barrier to degree completion. I urge you to take a leadership role on this issue by supporting this bill. We gave a lot of trouble right now, but hunger for our student population must be addressed. Thank you.