Call In Day for AB 828: Lift the CalFresh Ban!

Today, August 14, 2012, is a state-wide call-in day in support of AB 828, the Nutrition Assistance for Families Act.  AB 828 would require California to opt out of the lifetime ban for CalFresh benefits for people convicted of a felony involving controlled substances.

This Wednesday, members of the Senate Appropriations Committee will decide whether to advance AB 828, the bill to lift the lifetime ban on receiving CalFresh assistance for people with a prior non-violent drug conviction.   We care about this bill because we see first-hand (through our Dining Room and our Father Alfred Center drug and alcohol rehab program) how this ban hurts the chances of people who are trying to change their lives and reenter society.

Take Action!

See below for a list of target committee members and their numbers. If you only have time to make one call, choose Senator Kehoe as your target. She is the Chair of the committee.

Here’s a sample message:

My name is_____ and I live in_____.

I’m calling to ask you to support AB 828, the bill to lift the lifetime ban on receiving CalFresh assistance for people with a prior drug-related conviction. People shouldn’t be sentenced to a lifetime of hunger for any crime. Food is a human right, and to put entire families at risk of hunger because one of them committed a crime for which they have already served their time is unjust and inhumane.

Target Senate Appropriations Committee Members

• Chair: Sen. Christine Kehoe (San Diego), 916-651-4039
• Sen. Elaine Alquist (Santa Clara), 916-651-4013
• Sen. Curran D. Price, Jr. (Los Angeles), 916-651-4026
• Sen. Darrell Steinberg (Sacramento), 916-651-4006
• Sen. Ted Lieu (Los Angeles), 916-651-4028

Our friends at the San Diego Hunger Coalition have made a little video showing just how easy it is to call in your support for AB 828.  Check it out and get inspired to make your call.

Join St. Anthony’s, the California Catholic Conference, the California Association of Food Banks, Friends Committee on Legislation of California, Western Center on Law and Poverty, and many others in asking the Senate Appropriations Committee to support AB 828 by making a simple phone call today!