Since my letter about protecting the SNAP program (formerly food stamps) last month ("Take action," June 29), there has been hopeful action: the Senate Farm Bill protects SNAP.
Meeting with Senate and House members from Washington state in D.C. earlier this month, I was assured they would support the Senate version of the Farm Bill that protects the SNAP program as it is, unlike the House version's cuts that would eventually mean 2 million more hungry families.
One member of the House even told me they expected the Senate version to be kinder to SNAP and eventually prevail.
As the Farm Bill goes to conference to iron out the differences, our calls and letters can be very effective to preventing an increase in hunger by asking our representatives in Congress to support the Senate version.
This is how democracy works best, when citizens participate.
Willie Dickerson
Snohomish
