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Ben Ray Lujan on Welfare & Poverty
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End "lunch shaming" for students who can't afford lunch
New Mexico proudly ended the cruel practice of lunch shaming but students across the country are still forced to go hungry or are ostracized if they are unable to afford a school lunch. We are the richest nation in the world and must end this practice.
The data is clear: Children cannot learn when they are hungry and they cannot succeed when they are sick. This is why I've continued to champion the No Shame Act to end this senseless policy.
Source: 2020 New Mexico Senate campaign website BenRayLujan .com
, Jul 8, 2020
Sponsored maintaining SNAP nutrition assistance program.
Lujan co-sponsored House Resolution on SNAP
- WHEREAS hunger is a serious threat to individual dignity, productivity, learning, economic prosperity, health, and development;
- WHEREAS food insecurity means that people face an ongoing struggle against hunger;
- WHEREAS 50.1 million people lived in food insecure households in 2011;
- WHEREAS the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP), established in the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, is the nation`s first line of defense against hunger and food insecurity;
- WHEREAS SNAP served more than 47.5 million individuals in October 2012;
- WHEREAS the SNAP benefits average less than $1.50 per individual per meal;
- WHEREAS SNAP participation rises when the economy is weak;
- WHEREAS millions of Americans need to turn to SNAP as a way to feed themselves and their families;
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Whereas SNAP is an efficient public-private partnership that runs on the regular channels of commerce--regular retail food stores and electronic benefit transfer (EBT) systems;
- WHEREAS every dollar in new SNAP benefits generates up to $1.79 in economic activity
- RESOLVED that Congress should not propose any reduction in the availability or amount of benefits provided under the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) in effect under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, and that the House of Representatives should reject any proposed legislation that includes any provisions that reduce the availability or amount of benefits provided under SNAP.
Source: H.RES.90 13-HRes90 on Feb 28, 2013
Voted NO on transferring housing vouchers to ex-addicts.
Lujan voted NAY Transitional Housing for Recovery in Viable Environments Demonstration Program Act
Congressional Summary: Transitional Housing for Recovery in Viable Environments Demonstration Program Act: This bill requires HUD to establish a five-year demonstration program to provide low-income rental-assistance vouchers to individuals recovering from an opioid or other substance-use disorder. Specifically, these vouchers shall be provided through a supportive housing program that provides treatment for such disorders and coordination with workforce development providers.
Statement in support by the Republican Policy Committee: This bill would set aside, out of approximately 2.2 million vouchers, the lesser of 10,000 Section 8 vouchers or .05% of all vouchers. In 2017, President Trump established the President`s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis. The Commission will be chaired by Governor Chris Christie and will study ways to combat and treat the scourge of the opioid crisis.
The Commission noted, `There is a critical shortage of recovery housing for Americans in or pursuing recovery. Recovery residences (also known as `sober homes`) are alcohol- and drug-free living environments for individuals seeking the skills and social support to remain free of alcohol or other drugs.`
Statement in opposition by National Low-Income Housing Coalition: The bill would lengthen affordable housing waiting lists for low income families, seniors, and people experiencing homelessness. Rep. Maxine Waters spoke against the bill [saying it] tries to help people suffering from substance-use disorders, but that doing so requires more resources: `You cannot do this on the cheap. Rehabilitation costs money. We would be taking 10,000 vouchers from those who have been waiting in line for years.`
Legislative outcome: Bill Passed House, 230-17-24 on June 14, 2018. No vote in Senate [died in committee].
Source: Congressional vote 18-HR5735 on May 9, 2018
Public jobs on community-based public interest projects.
Lujan signed public jobs on community-based public interest projects
CONGRESSIONAL SUMMARY: - There is established in the Department of Labor a New Economy Grant Program to provide grants for the creation of new jobs on specific public works projects carried out by State or local governments, and community-based public interest projects carried out by nonprofit organizations.
- Specific Project Grants- From the amounts made available, set aside an amount for each State based on the population of and relative unemployment rate.
- Entities eligible for a direct grant under this section include the following:
- STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS that demonstrate an ability to promptly hire new employees for work on specific public works projects.
- NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS- Community-based nonprofit organizations that demonstrate an ability to promptly hire and effectively manage new employees for work on specific projects. - Such projects must be ready to commence work no later than 2 months after receiving a grant, and new positions of
employment on such projects must be for a period of not less than 6 months.
SPONSOR`S INTRODUCTORY REMARKS:
Rep. HARE: The unemployed don`t want another benefits check. They want a job. H.R. 4290 would tackle this problem by creating and helping retain millions of jobs. It will reach that goal by investing $60 billion per year over 3 years in TARP money.
- First, it would invest heavily in the creation of a new economy grant program.
- Secondly, it would provide a direct line of funding to states and localities to help alleviate their financial woes.
- Further, my bill would provide much-needed funding to our Nation`s schools to protect our teachers and hire more to meet the needs of our children.
- The final piece of this bill is a direct line of funding to our national forests and national parks to address some of their many high-needs projects that have been neglected for decades.
Wall Street got its bailout. It`s time for Main Street to get theirs.
Source: New Deal for a New Economy Act (H.R.4290) 2009-H4290 on Dec 11, 2009
Support school breakfast for low-income children.
Lujan signed bill favoring school breakfast for low-income kids
A resolutix`on expressing the sense of the Senate that providing breakfast in schools through the national school breakfast program has a positive impact on the lives and classroom performance of low-income children.- Recognizes the positive effect the National School Breakfast Program has had on children`s classroom performance and the lives of low-income children and families.
- Expresses strong support for states that have successfully implemented school breakfast programs and encourages all states to improve their programs.
- Recognizes:
- the importance of providing states with resources to improve the availability of adequate and nutritious breakfasts;
- the role nonprofit and community organizations play in increasing awareness of, and access to, breakfast programs for low-income children; and
- hat National School Breakfast Week helps draw attention to the need for, and success of, the National School Breakfast Program.
Source: SR67&HRes210 2009-SR67 on Mar 5, 2009
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Other candidates on Welfare & Poverty: |
Ben Ray Lujan on other issues: |
NM Gubernatorial:
Deb Haaland
Gregg Hull
Jay Block
Mark Ronchetti
Michelle Lujan-Grisham
Rebecca Dow
Steve Lanier
NM Senatorial:
Martin Heinrich
Matt Dodson
Nella Domenici
NM politicians
NM Archives
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