'Dollars are going to people in need': Local relief agencies optimistic over new executive orders
President Biden signed an executive order Friday asking the U.S. Department of Agriculture to expand food assistance benefits like SNAP and P-EBT.
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Updated: 10:38 PM CST Jan 22, 2021
'Dollars are going to people in need': Local relief agencies optimistic over new executive orders
President Biden signed an executive order Friday asking the U.S. Department of Agriculture to expand food assistance benefits like SNAP and P-EBT.
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Updated: 10:38 PM CST Jan 22, 2021
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EMILY: WE’RE TWO MONTHS AWAY FROM BEING A YEAR INTO THE PANDEMIC, AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS ARE STILL SEEING A TREMENDOUS NEED FOR FOOD. >> WE’RE SEEING MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ENROLL IN SNAP WHO NEVER THOUGHT THAT THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT THEY WOULD NEED. EMILY: SHELLEY MANN IS THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF SNAP ASSISTANCE AT THE FOOD BANK FOR THE HEARTLAND. SHE’S HOPEFUL PRESIDENT BIDEN’S ORDER COULD PROVIDE A REAL BOOST FOR NEBRASKANS. >> THESE DOLLARS ARE GOING TO PEOPLE IN NEED. BUT THEY’RE GOING TO SPEND THEM BACK INTO OUR ECONOMY AND THAT’S REALLY EXCITING. EMILY: STATE SENATOR JOHN MCCOLLISTER AGREES. >> FOOD STAMPS IS AN IMPORTANT INGREDIENT TO DEAL WITH THE PANDEMIC. EMILY: THE OMAHA SENATOR JUST INTRODUCED A NEW BILL, LB-108, TO MAKE SNAP BENEFITS AVAILABLE FOR MORE PEOPLE. >> IN NEBRASKA, BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, IT WAS ABOUT 10% OF THE POPULATION WAS FOOD INSECURE. BUT NOW I WOULD GUESS IT’ ANYWHERE, 15%, 16%, PERHAPS EVEN AS HIGH AS 20%. EMILY: ERIN PORTERFIELD IS WITH HEARTLAND WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS. SHE SAYS ABOUT A HUNDRED PEOPLE COME IN FOR HELP EVERY DAY, FILING FOR UNEMPLOYMENT, AND LOOKING FOR A NEW JOB. >> SO MUCH IS UNKNOWN AND SO MANY INDIVIDUALS EXPECTED THEIR JOBS TO COME BACK, AS GOOD AS IT WAS BEFORE, AND MAYBE QUICKER. AND NOW IT’S LENGTHENING. EMILY: SHE SAYS FOOD ASSISTANCE , STIMULUS CHECKS, AND EVICTION MORATORIUMS ALL GO HAND IN HAND TO HELP. >> ALL OF THESE ARE GOING TO BE NECESSARY IN ORDER TO DEEPLY CARE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE FINDING THEIR WAY. EMILY: THIS ORDER ALSO INCLUDES A NUDGE FOR THE TREASURE DEPARTMENT TO STREAMLINE ITS PROCESS TO GET AMERICANS THEIR STIMULUS CHECKS. THE SECOND ORDER STARTS THE PROCESS OF INCREASING THE MINIMUM WAGE FOR FEDERAL WORKERS TO $15 P