By Nelson A. King
New York Attorney General
Letitia James and District of
Columbia Attorney General,
Karl Racine have taken the lead
in filing a lawsuit to stop the
Trump administration from
eliminating food assistance
for nearly 700,000 Americans,
including Caribbean nationals.
The lawsuit, which was joined
by 13 attorneys general and the
City of New York, challenges a
United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA) rule that
would limit states’ ability to
extend benefits from the Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance
Program (SNAP), commonly
known as “food stamps,”
beyond a three-month period
for certain adults.
The coalition asserts in the
lawsuit, which was filed in the
United States District Court for
the District of Columbia, that
the rule directly undermines
the US Congress’ intent for
SNAP, and that the USDA violated
Caribbean L 20 ife, February 7-13, 2020
the US federal rulemaking
process.
Further, the petitioners argue
that the rule would impose significant
regulatory burdens
on the states and harm states’
economies and residents.
The coalition is urging the
court to declare the rule unlawful
and issue an injunction to
prevent it from taking effect on
April 1, 2020.
“The federal government’s
latest assault on vulnerable
individuals is cruel to its core,”
James said. “Denying access to
vital SNAP benefits would only
push hundreds of thousands of
already vulnerable Americans
into greater economic uncertainty.
“In so doing, states will have
to grapple with rising healthcare
and homelessness costs
that will result from this shortsighted
and ill-conceived policy,”
she added.
James said this rule will deny
access to food assistance for
more than 50,000 people in
New York City, including Caribbean
immigrants, and put tens
of thousands more throughout
New York State at risk of going
hungry.
The New York attorney general
said SNAP has served as
the country’s primary response
to hunger since 1977 and has
been a critical part of federal
and state efforts to help lift people
out of poverty.
She said the program provides
access to food for millions
of Americans with limited
income, who would otherwise
struggle with food insecurity.
“While the federal government
pays the full cost of SNAP
benefits, it shares the costs of
administering the program on
a 50-50 basis with the states,
New York State Attorney, General Letitia James.
Associated Press / Richard Drew
which operate the program,”
James said.
She noted that the US Congress
amended SNAP in 1996
with the goal of encouraging
greater workforce participation
among beneficiaries.
The changes introduced
a three-month time limit on
SNAP benefits for unemployed
individuals aged 18 to 49 who
are not disabled or raising
children —”able-bodied adults
without dependents” (ABAWDs),
James said.
She said the US Congress
“understood that states were
best positioned to assess whether
local economic conditions
and labor markets provided
ABAWDs reasonable employment
opportunities.”
Attorneys general sue Trump
for stripping food aid to
Caribbean immigrants
PATIENTS’
CHOICE
RATED & AWARDED BY PATIENTS
SM