Support needed for AB 828!

(Pictured: St. Anthony’s Advocate Franky and Assemblymember Sandre’ Swanson (D, Oakland) testify on behalf of AB 828)

St. Anthony’s has supported AB 828, the Nutritional Assistance for Families Act, and its goal to lift the lifetime ban on CalFresh (the new name for California’s “food stamp” program) assistance for people with prior low-level drug convictions. We have testified in support of the bill in front of both the Assembly and Senate Human Services Committees. because we believe that CalFresh benefits are critical for successful community re-entry and economic self-sufficiency. Denied these benefits, individuals who have already paid their debt to society are unable to secure nutritious food for their families.

AB 828 is currently stuck in the Senate Appropriations Committee on the “suspense file”.  We need to ask the Chair of this committee, Senator Christine Kehoe, to support the passage of AB 828 out of the suspense file so that it can be voted on by the entire Senate.

Please join St. Anthony’s in supporting AB 828 by writing to Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Christine Kehoe.  Hand written snail-mailed letters pack the most punch, but email is OK, too.

To send snail mail to Senator Kehoe, use this address:
The Honorable Christine Kehoe
Chair, Senate Appropriations Committee
State Capitol, Room 5050
Sacramento, CA 95814

To email the Senator, use this address: senator.kehoe@sen.ca.gov

Not sure what to say?  Feel free to use our sample letter, below.

Dear Senator Kehoe:

I support Assembly Bill 828 (Swanson) and its goal to lift the lifetime ban on CalFresh assistance for people with prior low-level drug convictions.

Access to CalFresh benefits is critical for formerly incarcerated people to successfully re-enter their community and stay self-sufficient.  Since people have already served their time, I think they deserve to qualify for CalFresh like any other individual.  When formerly incarcerated people are unemployed or underemployed with no food assistance, it makes it harder for them to feed their family.  Thirty-seven states and the District of Columbia have already restored nutrition benefits to this vulnerable population (USDA, June 2009).

For these reasons, I strongly support AB 828 and urge you and your colleagues to pass it out of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Sincerely,
(Your Name)