Action Needed: Ask Your State Senator to Vote "Yes" in November to Lift the Federal Ban

In November when the Pennsylvania General Assembly goes back into session in Harrisburg, it will have the opportunity to take final action on House Bill 1401. This bill would lift a 1996 federal ban on food stamps to persons who have been convicted of a drug felony. About 30 states have already taken this action.

Current law, which denies food stamps to convicted drug felons, makes it all the harder for recovering addicts to support their children. Food pantries and cupboards report increased need because they are the food source of last resort when parents are denied help from the Food Stamp Program.

The House passed this bill in February 2002. The Senate passed a similar bill (S. 51, authored by Senator Jane Earll, Republican from Erie) in June 2001. Now time is running out for the current session of the General Assembly. House Bill 1401 has cleared all Senate committees and has been heard twice on the Senate floor. It is ready for a final Senate vote.

Food bank leaders, the PA District Attorney's Association, and the Drug and Alcohol Service Providers Association all support lifting the federal ban. Mr. Mike Fisher and Mr. Edward Rendell both support lifting the ban as well.

Urge your state senator to give HB 1401 top priority. "Get this work done ASAP in November so that HB 1401 becomes law before this session of the General Assembly ends." Your senator will be at his/her home office between now and November 12^th. Call him/her there. You can find his/her local office telephone number.

If you prefer sending a letter, copy and paste our sample letter into your preferred format. The e-mail address for your state senator can be found in contact your legislators.