Why SNAP Cuts Hurt People and Must Not Pay for Tax Breaks for the Wealthy- Words and Pictures
March 17, 2025
CHN’s Human Needs Watch: Tracking Hardship, November 3, 2023
CHN Staff,
November 3, 2023
The earliest years edition. During the pandemic, policymakers worked, often in historic ways, to protect and elevate the well-being of children. A temporary expansion of the Child Tax Credit slashed the nation’s child poverty rate more than ever before. New laws and regulations made it easier to access nutrition assistance, including school meals even when school was not in session. No one was allowed to be kicked off Medicaid, ensuring that children (along with adults) had continuous access to health care. Emergency rental assistance and a federal ban on evictions kept families housed. Billions of dollars went to shore up the child care industry, and more money was allocated for early childhood education programs such as Head Start. Now it seems we have forgotten all that we learned.
CHN’s Human Needs Watch: Tracking Hardship, October 6, 2023
David Elliot,
October 6, 2023
The care is infrastructure edition. When Americans think of infrastructure, we tend to think of roads, bridges, tunnels, and railways. And it is true that much physical repair is needed – that's why Congress passed and President Biden signed bipartisan infrastructure legislation last year. But care is infrastructure as well. When human needs advocates think about care infrastructure, they usually talk about high-quality, accessible, and affordable child care; paid family and medical leave; home- and community-based services (HCBS) and support; and the care workforce.
CHN’s Human Needs Watch: Tracking Hardship, September 26, 2023
CHN Staff,
September 26, 2023
The shutdown and deep cuts twin-threat edition. A small group of House Republicans want extreme cuts and items from the right-wing wish list in federal spending bills, If Speaker McCarthy would allow a stopgap spending bill that would be acceptable on a bipartisan basis to come to the floor, it would pass. But so far he is trying for a Republican bill, and so he – and the nation – are being held hostage. The twin threats before us are a (1) shutdown that, if it lasts longer than a few days, will slow or stop services, hurt workers, and threaten the economy and (2) ever harsher cuts and restrictions demanded as the price of keeping the government open.
CHN’s Human Needs Watch: Tracking Hardship, August 25, 2023
CHN Staff,
August 25, 2023
The clean energy and infrastructure edition. Two of President Biden’s most formidable and far-reaching accomplishments while in office include passage of the Inflation Reduction Act and passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal. Last week, we celebrated the one-year anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act; November will mark the second anniversary of the infrastructure law.
CHN’s Human Needs Watch: Tracking Hardship, August 4, 2023
CHN Staff,
August 4, 2023
The threat of hunger edition. Back in the 1970s, Sens. Robert Dole (R-KS) and George McGovern (D-S.D.) worked together to advance the cause of nutrition assistance for low-income Americans. First, they cosponsored a bill that comprehensively reformed and improved food stamps. Then they came together again to help create the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). Finally, they stepped in to protect and expand the National School Lunch Program.
