City of Philadelphia - File #: 180352

• File #: 180352
• Version: 0
• Type: Resolution
• Status: ADOPTED
• File created: 4/12/2018
• In control: CITY COUNCIL
• Final action: 4/19/2018
• Title: Urging the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to reject House Bills 1659 and 2138, which would create stringent employment requirements for Pennsylvanians using SNAP and Medicaid benefits.
• Sponsors: Councilmember Reynolds Brown, Councilmember Green, Councilmember Parker, Councilmember Blackwell, Councilmember Bass, Councilmember Greenlee, Councilmember Quiñones Sánchez, Councilmember Domb, Councilmember Henon, Councilmember Jones, Councilmember Johnson

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result	Tally
4/19/2018	0	CITY COUNCIL	ADOPTED
4/12/2018	0	CITY COUNCIL	Introduced and Ordered Placed On Next Week's Final Passage Calendar	Pass

Title
Urging the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to reject House Bills 1659 and 2138, which would create stringent employment requirements for Pennsylvanians using SNAP and Medicaid benefits.

Body
WHEREAS, One in seven Pennsylvanians use the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to help buy the food they need to survive and feed their families. The SNAP benefit allows low-wage workers and those who cannot find steady employment, the resources they need to feed themselves and their families. SNAP also provides benefits to those who cannot work such as children, seniors, and people with disabilities; and

WHEREAS, The SNAP program is particularly important for the City of Philadelphia given its large number of residents living below the poverty line. According to the 2018 State of the City Report by Pew Charitable Trusts, 25.7 percent of residents live in poverty and 12.3 percent of residents are living in deep poverty; and

WHEREAS, The number of households receiving SNAP benefits has tripled since 2000. Working families have turned to SNAP during periods of both under-employment and unemployment. Research indicates that 96% of households who worked in the year before enrolling in SNAP also worked once they received benefits; and

WHEREAS, House Bill 1659 would prevent people who are already experiencing economic hardship from receiving necessary food by imposing new, stringent work requirements on certain adults - including those who live in areas with high unemployment - in order to qualify for SNAP benefits; and

WHEREAS, Revoking food assistance does not create work opportunities in areas currently lacking jobs, increase hours for part-time workers, or address barriers some individuals face that prevent them from working; and

WHEREAS, Every dollar spent on SNAP generated $1.70 in economic activity. Since SNAP benefits are 100% federally funded, imposing time limits or sanctions on receivers of SNAP means those individuals wi...