Bill Overview
Title: STOP Campus Hunger Act
Description: This bill requires institutions of higher education (IHEs) that participate in federal student-aid programs to provide students with certain information related to nutrition assistance. Specifically, such IHEs must annually provide students with information on the most recent student eligibility guidance for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC); contact information for the state agencies that administer SNAP and WIC; and information on food pantries, food assistance facilities, and other services that are available to enrolled students. The bill also requires the Department of Education to annually update its College Navigator website with the most recent student eligibility guidance for SNAP and WIC.
Sponsors: Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12]
Target Audience
Population: Students in higher education institutions receiving federal student aid
Estimated Size: 20000000
- The bill requires institutions of higher education that participate in federal student-aid programs to provide students with information about nutrition assistance programs such as SNAP and WIC.
- Approximately 20 million students were expected to be enrolled in higher education institutions in the United States by 2023.
- Many of these students, particularly those who are low-income, struggle with food insecurity and may benefit directly from information regarding food assistance programs.
- The information provided by this act could help address food insecurity among college students in the United States.
Reasoning
- The policy is specifically targeting students in higher education institutions that participate in federal student-aid programs, which translates to potentially reaching a large segment of about 20 million U.S. students.
- The budget constraints of $50,000,000 in the first year and $500,000,000 over ten years limit the scale at which these programs can be rolled out, necessitating focused information dissemination efforts.
- There will likely be a range of impacts among students depending on their individual circumstances, such as varying degrees of food insecurity and awareness of existing nutrition assistance programs.
- Students who are already aware of and making use of these programs may see little change, whereas those who are unaware or hesitant to seek help due to stigma or lack of information may benefit more significantly.
Simulated Interviews
student (New York)
Age: 19 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I often find myself choosing between buying textbooks and having a proper meal. Knowing exactly what help I can get from programs like SNAP and WIC would make things easier.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
student (California)
Age: 22 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I haven't thought much about food assistance because I've been managing with my part-time job, but more information could be good to have just in case.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
student (Texas)
Age: 21 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I didn't know I could apply for any assistance while in college. This policy could really lighten my load financially.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 4 |
graduate student (Florida)
Age: 24 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 1.5 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As an international student, I'm not sure what benefits are available for me. Getting this information would be good though I'm not sure it would apply to me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
student (Illinois)
Age: 20 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- My school doesn't talk much about programs like SNAP or WIC. It could be helpful for students who are struggling with food.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
student (Ohio)
Age: 22 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I struggle with food security consistently, and learning more about what assistance is available would relieve a lot of stress.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
student (Georgia)
Age: 19 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It seems that a lot of students miss out on help they could get, just because they don't know about it. This policy could really change that.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
part-time student (New Mexico)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm pretty familiar with assistance programs and use them regularly. It's great if others can learn and benefit too, but it might not affect me much.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
graduate student (Michigan)
Age: 23 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I manage okay now, but more information is always helpful. I'm not sure how applicable it would be for me directly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
student (Oregon)
Age: 20 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Working at the food pantry, I see the struggles students face firsthand. Increased awareness could help a lot of my peers.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Year 2: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Year 3: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Year 5: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Year 10: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Year 100: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Key Considerations
- Compliance costs for institutions of higher education, while limited, could vary based on their current infrastructure for information dissemination.
- The effectiveness of the act will heavily depend on the clarity and accessibility of the information provided to students.
- The bill will have an indefinite cost duration as long as institutions participate in federal student-aid programs.