Harper’s Anti-Hunger Bill Signed into Law

A measure to expand options for people experiencing food insecurity spearheaded by state Rep. Sonya Harper, D-Chicago, recently became law in Illinois.

“Far too many Illinoisans don’t have a place to prepare, store or cook food in order to receive necessary sustenance,” State Rep. Sonya Harper said.

“Unfortunately, overly-restrictive policies are preventing them from getting the assistance they deserve.”

Harper sponsored House Bill 3343 to allow disabled, elderly and homeless people receiving assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to use SNAP benefits at certain restaurants, giving people who are physically unable to prepare food or have no place to store groceries access to prepared meals.

Currently, Arizona and California offer the Restaurant Meals Program, a voluntary program under federal law, while Florida and Rhode Island are operating pilot projects. Illinois residents are currently limited in how they can use SNAP, severely restricting homeless and disabled individuals’ access to food.

“This bill will help give our must vulnerable Illinoisans access to good meals” Harper said.

“I applaud my colleagues in the General Assembly as well as Gov. J.B. Pritzker for supporting this measure, which will reduce hunger and support local businesses.”

Harper represents the 6th District, which includes all or portions of Armour Square, Bridgeport, Chicago Lawn, Englewood, Gage Park, Back of the Yards, Canaryville, New City, West Englewood, Marquette Park, South Loop and River North.

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Ray Hanania is an award-winning opinion columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.

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Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.

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