1. United States
2. Mich.
3. Letter

I’m writing to urge your support in reinstating the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Economic Research Service (ERS) Household Food Security report. This longstanding report has been the nation’s most reliable tool for understanding how many American families struggle to keep food on the table and how well federal nutrition programs are working. My daughter has been running a food pantry at her university for the past two years. She has interacted daily with students and staff who are living with food insecurity. It s experienced daily by so many around us and among us, and we don't even realize it. As a young single mom, I also experienced food insecurity for myself and my two young children. I relied on SNAP and WIC benefits, and still needed assistance from family because it wasn't enough. I have family members and friends that I care about deeply who have disabilities and rely on assistance from programs like SNAP for their nutritional needs. It is so important that data about food insecurity in our country does not get erased - removing the data does not remove the problem!! Americans need to be aware of the prevalence of this problem so that we can continue to try to find solutions. For more than three decades, the ERS report has provided policymakers with objective, nonpartisan data essential for sound decision-making. By measuring food insecurity consistently year after year, the report allows Congress and USDA to evaluate whether taxpayer-funded nutrition programs such as SNAP, WIC, and school meals are delivering results, identify where gaps exist and ensure resources are used efficiently, and track progress and measure the impact of policy changes over time. The most recent data revealed that one in seven households, 47.4 million Americans, including 13.8 million children, faced food insecurity. This reality has significant consequences for our economy, workforce readiness, and the strength of our communities. We also know that food insecurity responds to policy intervention: rates dropped to historic lows in 2021 when families received temporary support, but rose again after those supports expired and inflation increased. The ERS report is not about expanding programs; it is about ensuring accountability, transparency, and responsible governance. It ensures that Congress has the best available information available to make decisions affecting millions of families and to maintain public confidence in USDA’s stewardship of nutrition programs. I respectfully urge you to support efforts calling on USDA to reinstate the ERS Household Food Security report. Ensuring access to accurate, consistent data is a matter of good government and fiscal responsibility, and it will help strengthen families, communities, and the nation as a whole. Thanks.