1. United States
2. Mo.
3. Letter

I urge you to oppose HB1974 (Cook), HB3245 (Cook), HB2468 (Phelps), HB2481 (Gragg), SB1616 (Brattin), SB1347 (Carter), HB2706 (Hruza), and any efforts to expand documentation requirements or restrict food purchases in public assistance programs. These bills would harm low-income Missourians without achieving their stated goals. H1974 and HB3245 would end the ability for TANF recipients to access cash benefits. In Missouri, a single parent with two children must live on less than $3,504 per year to qualify for TANF. These families need cash to survive. There are many situations where cash is the only option: putting money in a laundry machine, paying for a school field trip, buying items at a yard sale, giving a neighbor five dollars for a ride to a job interview, paying a landlord who accepts only cash, or repaying a family member for a loan. Taking away cash access ignores these daily realities. This change is also not allowed under federal rules. The bill says Missouri would ask for a federal waiver, but this type of waiver has never been granted. In 2015, Kansas tried a similar law, and the federal government stopped it. Federal guidance requires states to ensure TANF recipients have adequate access to their cash assistance. I also oppose HB2468, HB2481, and SB1616, which expand citizenship documentation requirements. Undocumented immigrants are already ineligible for SNAP and Medicaid under federal law. Missouri already verifies immigration status through Social Security Numbers and federal databases. These bills would require additional documents at every recertification, which for SNAP is every six months. This does not close a loophole. It creates barriers for people who are already eligible. The people who will be hurt are United States citizens. Seniors born at home without birth certificates. People who move frequently and lose documents. Survivors of domestic violence fleeing abuse. Veterans experiencing homelessness. These individuals are legally entitled to food assistance, but added paperwork could delay or deny them access. Implementing these checks would also cost the state millions of dollars. SB1347 and HB2706 would restrict what families can buy with SNAP. This creates confusion and stigma. Families may simply cross state lines to shop where they are not scrutinized, which hurts local grocers. The bill does not provide a workable definition of unhealthy food. Some granola bars have more fat than soft drinks. Some candy bars have less saturated fat than cheese. The USDA states there are no clear standards for defining foods as good or bad. The best way to encourage healthy eating is to strengthen nutrition programs, not restrict them. Missouri could expand the Double Up Food Bucks Program or support farmers market programs. Please oppose these bills.