Dear Chairs Kennedy and Livingstone, and Members of the Committee,

The Marion Institute's Southcoast Food Policy Council (SFPC) asks you to support H.135/S.76, An Act Establishing Basics Needs Assistance for MA Immigrant Residents.

SFPC's mission is to connect, convene, and advocate for local food producers, consumers, and community partners who seek to generate policies and practices that strengthen our regional food system, enhance food security, and promote health equity. Our membership constitutes 400+ community partners representing farmers, anglers, food pantry leaders, churches, social service agencies, schools, institutional buyers, and various partner organizations throughout the Southcoast.

The Act Establishing Basic Needs Assistance for Massachusetts Immigrant Residents, sponsored by Rep. Antonio Cabral, Rep. Judith Garcia, and Sen. Sal DiDomenico, would restore basic food and cash benefits for low-income, legally present immigrants living in Massachusetts. For five years, from 1997 to 2002, the Commonwealth provided state-funded SNAP, TAFDC, and EAEDC to immigrants cut off from federal benefits in the wake of the 1996 Welfare Reform Law. However, times have changed. Currently, 1 in 6 Massachusetts residents, roughly 17%, are foreign-born. Many legally present immigrants (families with minor children, older people, and immigrants with disabilities) who have lived in the state for years are not eligible for critical cash and nutrition benefits. These are vulnerable immigrants, often with pending asylum cases, DACA/Dreamers, and victims of violence. While funding would cost approximately 18M in the first fiscal year, it would provide an average of $180 a month in state funded SNAP benefits to roughly 8,000 – 12,000 immigrants and give an average of $300 a month in TAFDC cash benefits to about 1,000 to 1,500 immigrant children and families. Please act now to restore benefits to Massachusetts immigrants who are our neighbors and live in our communities.

A mother of five children in New Bedford shared this story with The Southcoast Food Policy Council. "My youth was a bit painful, and when I was a young immigrant, I became a mother for the first time when I was 15 years old. By the time I was 19, I had four children. I could not provide financially for them and had to depend on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which was a blessing, but at the same time, it was not enough. I also depended on going to church pantries for food. I appreciated SNAP because feeding minors is essential for growth. Now, all of my children have finished high school and have professions. I would not have achieved this if I had not had the support of SNAP. Investing in food is one of the most valuable humanitarian weapons we have to help families."

We appreciate your ongoing work of safeguarding the people of Massachusetts through common-sense approaches that address policies in support of improved health equity and strengthening our economy. We respectfully request that the Committee pass H.135/S.76 favorably and vote in favor of the bill in a floor vote. Thank you for the opportunity to provide this testimony.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Wiley
Executive Director, Marion Institute

Christine Smith
Program Manager, SFPC