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Media Advisory No. 000.22

Contact: USDA Office of Communications (202) 720-4623

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to Give Fireside Chat on SNAP at Hamilton Project’s Policy Forum

WASHINGTON, April 21 2016 – TODAY, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will provide remarks on the effectiveness of SNAP in reducing poverty and food insecurity.

While the economy is improving, many Americans continue to need support as they get back on their feet. More than half of SNAP households with at least one able-bodied adult are working families, and 60 percent of SNAP participants are children, senior citizens, or persons with disabilities. SNAP has been instrumental in helping many hard-working families put food on the table.

Recent Census data indicate that 4.7 million people, including 2.1 million children, were lifted out of poverty due to SNAP benefits in 2014. Evidence also suggests that early participation in SNAP leads to significant improvements in birth outcomes, and overall health and economic self-sufficiency among disadvantaged women.

USDA has also made it a priority to improve the healthfulness of SNAP by expanding access to healthy foods for SNAP participants at farmers markets and investing in state employment and training programs designed to help people move off of SNAP in the right way.

Thursday, April 21, 2016 9AM EDT

WHAT: Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will deliver remarks to the Hamilton Project Policy Forum on SNAP at the Brookings Institution in Washington, DC.

WHERE:

The Brookings Institution

1775 Massachusetts Ave. NW

Washington, DC 20036

Click kmcintosh.

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