Food Banks Praise Passage of Federal Coronavirus Bill

"These funds will go directly to our hardest-hit neighbors, bolster public health and provide an immediate economic stimulus in every Texas community."

Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN, Texas — Food banks and nutrition advocates praised the bipartisan passage of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act in Congress.

The bill strengthens the nation's nutrition safety net by providing more than $1 billion in immediate, additional funds for food banks, senior-serving organizations and families participating in WIC. It also allows states to respond forcefully to the outbreak by:

1. Providing an electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card to purchase groceries to households with children who would normally receive free or reduced-price school meals;
2. Providing temporary, emergency SNAP benefits to all SNAP households up to the maximum monthly benefit amount; and
3. Suspending time limits on SNAP eligibility for unemployed and underemployed individuals.

"Texas should move quickly to take advantage of the funds and flexibility provided in this legislation," said Celia Cole, CEO of Feeding Texas. "These funds will go directly to our hardest-hit neighbors, bolster public health and provide an immediate economic stimulus in every Texas community."