Nebraska legislators are making efforts to eliminate bans on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for individuals convicted of drug felonies, both at the state and federal levels.
At present, individuals with drug felony convictions face a permanent disqualification from receiving food assistance.
This prohibition was established at the federal level in the 1990s during the era of the war on drugs. Although each state has the option to opt out of this ban, Nebraska remains among the 20 states that continue to enforce it.
Senator Megan Hunt of Omaha and Congressman Don Bacon are pursuing two avenues to amend this situation.
Myron Sison, formerly incarcerated for nearly seven years on a felony drug conviction, is currently subject to a lifetime ban from SNAP, noted that his presence here signifies his commitment to sobriety.
Sison, who is now employed at the Heart Ministry Center Pantry, said he’s been clean for the first time in a long while.
“I’m in this program because I’m clean, I’m clean for the first time in a long time,” he added Sison.