Lift the lifetime drug ban on public assistance

The drug war has made it possible to block people from accessing nutritional and other forms of public assistance based on a positive drug test or felony drug conviction.

These cruel policies make it harder for families to meet basic needs and do nothing to help people struggling to put food on the table. Yet for decades there’s been a lifetime federal ban on these crucial benefits for people with felony drug convictions.

A new bill in the U.S. House would repeal this unfair law: urge your Representative to support the MEAL Act and lift the lifetime felony drug ban on welfare and food stamps.

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Your Message

Subject Support the MEAL Act, H.R. 2837

Dear Representative,

Message Body

I urge you to support and cosponsor the Making Essentials Affordable and Lawful (MEAL) Act, (H.R. 2837). This legislation would immediately repeal the lifetime ban on individuals convicted of a drug felony from receiving SNAP and TANF. The MEAL Act also supports reinstatement of SNAP assistance for individuals transitioning back to the community following a period of incarceration.
 
Congress first imposed this lifetime ban in 1996 during the tough-on-crime era and should act now to repeal this cruel policy. The ban undermines efforts by individuals who are striving to transition successfully into the community and provide for their families. The ban also disproportionately impacts women and people of color who are statistically more likely to be incarcerated for drug crimes due to targeted drug arrests and enforcement. As a result of this ban, families with children receive a much lower overall benefit and greater food insecurity when a parent is ineligible for SNAP/TANF as a result of a drug felony conviction.
 
During this time of hardships stemming from the pandemic and economic downturn, it is much harder than during ordinary times for formerly incarcerated people to secure employment opportunities and pathways to prosperity. Repealing the drug felony ban enables returning individuals to focus on securing employment and housing during this difficult time rather than having to focus on finding food and other basic needs for themselves and their family.
 
A conviction should never be the basis to deny a person their most basic needs. Please support the MEAL Act and lift the lifetime felony drug ban on SNAP and TANF benefits.

Sincerely,

[First Name] [Last Name]
[Your Address]

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