FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 24, 2023
Contact:
Laura Millard Ross
lauramr@mlpp.org
517-281-1084
New report underscores the need to repeal a harmful federal SNAP policy that subjects families to hunger, worsens maternal and child health outcomes
Recently proposed RESTORE Act provides important opportunity for Congress to repeal SNAP ban nationwide for individuals with felony drug convictions and their families
LANSING—A harmful federal policy allows states to deny Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to individuals with felony drug convictions, and repealing this policy would help to improve alarmingly poor maternal and child health outcomes in the United States, according to a new report released today by the Michigan League for Public Policy.
The report, Improving Maternal and Child Health Through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, explores the impact that food insecurity has had on the health of children and families throughout the country and how federal lawmakers can help improve health outcomes and advance racial and health equity through the passage of the bipartisan, bicameral Re-entry Support Through Opportunities for Resources and Essentials (RESTORE) Act.
Over the last 20 years, the number of American women who die in childbirth each year has nearly doubled, and, currently, the U.S. maternal mortality rate is more than three times the rate in most other high-income countries and is continuing to rise. The U.S. also has the highest infant mortality rate of all high-income countries, at 5.4 deaths per 1,000 live births.
“Maternal and child health outcomes are infamously poor in the United States and food insecurity is certainly a contributing factor in that, with 1 in 10 Americans experiencing hunger– including more than 9 million children–and families with children shown to be disproportionately impacted by food insecurity. Racial disparities in nutrition have also led to even worse health outcomes for moms and babies of color, including higher rates of maternal and infant mortality,” said Michigan League for Public Policy President and CEO Monique Stanton. “It is essential to break down unnecessary barriers to food assistance for these children and families so they have access to the nutritious food they need to live and thrive.”
The nation’s war on drugs and, by extension, the SNAP ban have also unduly targeted disabled people and people of color, especially Black and Indigenous people. And because the division of labor in raising children remains heavily skewed toward women, a family’s encounter with the criminal legal system often has a disproportionate impact on mothers–whether they have a conviction themselves or are supporting a partner with a conviction–and their children. The SNAP ban, therefore, plays a destructive role in maintaining health and economic inequities along both racial and gender lines.
The RESTORE Act would repeal the federal policy that has allowed states to prohibit individuals with felony drug convictions from receiving SNAP benefits dating back to 1996. While many states over the past 27 years–including Michigan–have enacted state policies to fully waive the food assistance restriction because it is unjustly punitive and destructive to families, there are still 21 states with a partial ban and one state–South Carolina–with a full ban remaining in place.
“Michigan was on the right side of history when we ended our lifetime ban on SNAP for people with more than one drug felony, but we can’t stand by while this practice continues around the nation. The federal SNAP policy has made it difficult for families to move forward in the states where these bans still exist, punishing people long after they have served their sentences and subjecting entire families to hunger,” said Stanton. “These kinds of policies often do more harm than the actions they supposedly aim to deter and they actually contribute to higher rates of recidivism by not providing the support people need upon returning to their communities after incarceration. The Farm Bill has come up for reauthorization this year, creating a perfect opportunity for Congress to advance maternal and child health and strengthen the well-being of American families in every state with this simple policy change.”
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The Michigan League for Public Policy, www.mlpp.org, is a nonprofit policy institute focused on opportunity for all. Its mission is to use data to educate, advocate and fight for policy solutions that undo historic and systemic racial and economic inequities to lift up Michiganders who have been left out of prosperity. It is the only state-level organization that addresses poverty in a comprehensive way.
Jay Cutler joined the League in March 2026 as the Kids Count Senior Data Analyst, where he collects, analyzes, and prepares data for Kids Count in Michigan.
Danielle Taylor-Basemore joined the League as the Development Data and Stewardship Coordinator in June 2025. She brings with her five years of nonprofit experience with a special focus on community engagement, data visualization and strategic programming. Prior to joining the League, Danielle served as the Business District, Safety, and Digital Manager at Jefferson East, Inc.
Scott Preston is a Senior Policy Analyst with the Michigan League for Public Policy, where he leads the organization’s immigration and criminal justice reform portfolios. In the three years prior to joining the League, Scott facilitated the Southeast Michigan Refugee Collaborative and managed a small business economic development program at Global Detroit. His work included launching Michigan’s first Refugee Film Festival and building on a trusted connector model that linked marginalized communities with crucial resources. Scott’s work at the League is informed by his background in journalism and research. He spent four years covering the Syrian refugee crisis in the Middle East for publications such as The Economist, and later worked with unaccompanied refugee minors through Samaritas. Scott holds a master’s degree in international migration and public policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Kate Powers joined the League as the Chief Development Officer in February 2025. Prior to joining the League, Kate held leadership positions at many Michigan nonprofit organizations, most recently serving as the COO and Chief Development Officer of Ele’s Place. Kate has spent the bulk of her career in fundraising, with a short stint in the state Legislature as a legislative aide to members in both chambers. Kate is a graduate of Michigan State University’s James Madison College with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Relations and has a certificate in fundraising management from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. Additionally, Kate served on the East Lansing Public Schools Board of Education and is a past President of the Junior League of Lansing. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband and her son and saving outfit of the day and home decor ideas on Pinterest. 
Nicholas Hess joined the League as the Fiscal Policy Analyst in September of 2024. In this role, Nicholas focuses on tax policy, government revenue, and their impact on working families and racial equity, including the effects of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC). Nicholas values the role that judicious fiscal policy can play in the improvement of people’s lives and the economy, alleviating inequities along the way.
Audrey Matusz joined the League as the Visual Communications Specialist in September 2024. She supports the team with implementing social media strategies and brainstorming creative ways to talk about public policy. She brings with her nearly a decade of experience in producing digital products for evidence-based social justice initiatives. 
Jacob Kaplan 
Donald Stuckey 
Alexandra Stamm 
Amari Fuller
Mikell Frey is a communications professional with a passion for using the art of storytelling to positively impact lives. She strongly believes that positive social change can be inspired by the sharing of data-driven information coupled with the unique perspectives of people from all walks of life across Michigan, especially those who have faced extraordinary barriers. 
Yona Isaacs (she/hers) is an Early Childhood Data Analyst for the Kids Count project. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience at the University of Michigan, she began her career as a research coordinator in pediatric psychiatry using data to understand the impacts of brain activity and genetics on children’s behavior and mental health symptoms. This work prompted an interest in exploring social determinants of health and the role of policy in promoting equitable opportunities for all children, families, and communities. She returned to the University of Michigan to complete her Masters in Social Work focused on Social Policy and Evaluation, during which she interned with the ACLU of Michigan’s policy and legislative team and assisted local nonprofit organizations in creating data and evaluation metrics. She currently serves as a coordinator for the Michigan Center for Youth Justice on a project aiming to increase placement options and enhance cultural competency within the juvenile justice system for LGBTQIA+ youth. Yona is eager to put her data skills to work at the League in support of data-driven policies that advocate for equitable access to healthcare, education, economic security, and opportunity for 0-5 year old children. In her free time, she enjoys tackling DIY house projects and trying new outdoor activities with her dog.
Rachel Richards rejoined the League in December 2020 as the Fiscal Policy Director working on state budget and tax policies. Prior to returning to the League, she served as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Michigan Department of Treasury, the tax policy analyst and Legislative Director for the Michigan League for Public Policy, and a policy analyst and the Appropriations Coordinator for the Democratic Caucus of the Michigan House of Representatives. She brings with her over a decade of experience in policies focused on economic opportunity, including workforce issues, tax, and state budget.
Simon Marshall-Shah joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a State Policy Fellow in August 2019. His work focuses on state policy as it relates to the budget, immigration, health care and other League policy priorities. Before joining the League, he worked in Washington, D.C. at the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), providing federal policy and advocacy support to nonprofit, Medicaid health plans (Safety Net Health Plans) related to the ACA Marketplaces as well as Quality & Operations.
Renell Weathers, Michigan League for Public Policy (MLPP) Community Engagement Consultant. As community engagement consultant, Renell works with organizations throughout the state in connecting the impact of budget and tax policies to their communities. She is motivated by the belief that all children and adults deserve the opportunity to achieve their dreams regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or economic class.
Emily Jorgensen joined the Michigan League for Public Policy in July 2019. She deeply cares about the well-being of individuals and families and has a great love for Michigan. She is grateful that her position at the League enables her to combine these passions and work to help promote policies that will lead to better opportunities and security for all Michiganders.
Megan Farnsworth joined the League’s staff in December 2022 as Executive Assistant. Megan is driven by work that is personally fulfilling, and feels honored to help support the work of an organization that pushes for more robust programming and opportunities for the residents of our state. She’s excited and motivated to gain overarching knowledge of the policies and agendas that the League supports.
