There’s nothing funny in this cartoon by The Houston Chronicle’s Nick Anderson. As a matter of fact, after hearing ECM President Mike Petit’s recent interview on CNN about children dying from abuse and neglect, he didn’t pull any punches in depicting the issue in Texas.

If you’re wondering where your state ranks in the number of child deaths form abuse and neglect, click here.

A few weeks ago, we wrote to you about the budget the House of Representatives was voting on and passed.  We said that it would place a variety of children’s programs at risk of cuts. Last week, the House moved forward on making those specific cuts required by the budget they passed. This email focuses on the cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

The House Republicans’ proposed cuts to nutrition assistance will kick 280,000 low-income children off automatic enrollment in the Free School Lunch and Breakfast Program. Those same kids and 1.5 million other people will also lose their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly food stamp benefits) that help them afford food at home.

Ten years’ worth of these nutrition cuts could be prevented for the price of one year of tax cuts on 3,340 multimillion dollar estates that House Republicans are protecting in their budget.

Background

On April 18, the House Agriculture Committee passed a bill cutting over $33 billion from SNAP over the next decade. About one-third of these cuts ($11.5 billion) comes from putting restrictions on “categorical eligibility,” a provision that enables states to better coordinate between programs and improves access to assistance for low-income families.

By restricting this provision, the bill would kick an average of 1.8 million low-income people a year off of food aid and end automatic enrollment in free school meals for 280,000 children in struggling families.

A lot of hyperbole comes out of Washington DC.  However, words cannot overstate how decisions made as a result of this week will have a profound impact on how we care for the health of today's and tomorrow’s children. At the Supreme Court, justices are hearing arguments about the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act and could strike down parts, if not all, of the law.

The Affordable Care Act has already helped millions of children obtain quality, affordable health coverage. Specifically it:

• Prohibits insurers from denying insurance to children with serious illnesses, including pre-existing conditions such as asthma and diabetes.
• Provides free preventative services, including immunizations.
• Prevents insurance companies from imposing lifetime dollar limits. In the past, people with cancer or other serious illnesses in their childhood could run out of coverage later in life.
• Allows young adults to be covered through their parents’ insurance until the age of 26. Three million young adults are now insured who otherwise would not be.

Opponents of the law have no specific answers on how children will be protected if we repeal the law and go back to placing children at the mercy of insurance corporations.

On March 26th through March 28th the Supreme Court of the United States will hear oral arguments on the constitutionality of the minimum coverage provision, the expansion of Medicaid, and other aspects of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Visibility events will take place each day focused on a different constituency and core health care argument that showcases how the law is working. If you are in the D.C. area, please join ECM and hundreds of other organizations and individuals to let everyone know the ACA works for kids and is benefitting millions every day. They are scheduled from 8:00 a.m. to noon outside the Supreme Court. We will be in touch with details. Please share this e-mail with family, friends, and colleagues. Numbers make a difference. If you plan to participate, please respond to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .