Page 2 The Skanner May 9, 2018
®
Challenging People to Shape
a Better Future Now
Smart Investments in SNAP, Smart for the Black Community
Bernie Foster
Founder/Publisher
F
Bobbie Dore Foster
Executive Editor
Jerry Foster
Advertising Manager
Christen McCurdy
News Editor
Patricia Irvin
Graphic Designer
Monica J. Foster
Seattle Office Coordinator
Susan Fried
Photographer
2017
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Local News
Pacific NW News
World News
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LOCAL NEWS
BRIEFS
Harry C.
Alford
NNPA
Columnist
constructive and empower-
ing work requirements that
are balanced with a strong in-
vestment in proven tactics to
assist recipients in climbing
the economic ladder and im-
proving their station in life.
Now is the time for a focus
on employment and training
“
Rep. Mike
Conaway
TX-11, House
of Agriculture
Committee
Chairman
or re-enter the workforce.
Congress must take advan-
tage of the current economy,
and support individuals who
want their own status to im-
prove.
Businesses and SNAP re-
cipients alike stand to benefit
from investments in training
Americans in poverty should be
supported by government assis-
tance that aims to graduate users
into the mainstream economy
in the SNAP program. Let’s
energize and prepare eligi-
ble and work-capable SNAP
recipients, aged 18-59 years-
old, for the workforce by way
of a significant investment
in SNAP Employment and
Training (E&T), including a
suite of ancillary services like
assessment and case manage-
ment. It is important to afford
individuals additional oppor-
tunities like apprenticeships
and subsidized employment
opportunities that are prov-
en to help individuals enter
and education. Our economic
potential is only as great as
our workforce, and as we look
to stimulate growth for Black-
owned businesses we need
to see these policies for what
they are: opportunities for
those in need, accountability
for those on SNAP and an un-
tapped workforce that can fill
businesses unmet needs.
While critics of this leg-
islation claim it is aimed at
kicking people off SNAP to
save money, that couldn’t be
further from the truth. Un-
der this work proposal, only a
work-capable individual who
chooses not to participate in
a guaranteed E&T slot—who
chooses not to take advantage
of the free training and educa-
tion opportunities—will lose
eligibility for SNAP.
It’s time for both parties in
the House and Senate to come
together and rid America of
poverty through opportuni-
ties for upward mobility and
empower families and indi-
viduals with occupational
training and job placement.
All it takes is proper atten-
tion.
That’s why the House Ag-
riculture Committee wants
to work with groups like the
National Black Chamber of
Commerce, Black churches
and other interested parties
to highlight opportunities to
bring jobs back to local com-
munities and hire local work-
ers.
It’s as the old adage tells us,
“Give a man a fish and you
feed him for a day; teach a
man to fish, and you feed him
for a lifetime.”
For more information on
the 2018 Farm Bill, visit agri-
culture.house.gov/farmbill.
Mr. Alford is the Co-Founder,
President and CEO of the Na-
tional Black Chamber of Com-
merce. Rep. Mike Conaway
(TX-11) is the Chairman of the
House Agriculture Committee.
Is the Israeli-Palestinian, Two-State Solution Doomed?
I
n kicking off the new year,
the central committee of
the right-wing, governing
Israeli party — the Likud —
unanimously adopted a reso-
lution calling for the annex-
ation of Israeli settlements
in the occupied West Bank.
Though this was technically
an advisory opinion, most
observers recognize that this
represents the views of Prime
Minister Netanyahu’s admin-
istration.
For years, the Israeli gov-
ernment has been doing a
dance where they have, on
the one hand, increased the
illegal settlement of Pales-
tinian territories while, on
the other hand, claiming that
they uphold the ultimate goal
of a two-state solution to the
Israeli/Palestinian dispute.
The announcement of the
Likud resolution puts to bed
any further pretense; Likud
seeks to eliminate Palestin-
ians from the occupied terri-
tories by seizing the best land
Bill
Fletcher Jr.
The Global
African
and forcing the Palestinians
into a situation that is further
reminiscent of the Bantustan
“
sive territory that the Pales-
tinians can exist upon. Their
land will be formally — rath-
er than de facto — divided
according to the wishes of the
Israeli government; the Pales-
tinians will have no access to
the sea; and little assurance of
access via the air.
While the Palestinians may
have a flag, they will have lit-
tle else.
The Israeli political establishment
has made it impossible for a re-
alistic two-state solution to come
into existence
settlements established by
apartheid South Africa, pre-
1994.
The Israeli political estab-
lishment has made it impos-
sible for a realistic two-state
solution to come into exis-
tence. If Israel goes forward
with this annexation, there
will conclusively be no cohe-
Check out:
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TheSkannerNews
m
me
•
nts
rom 2012 to 2015 African
American-owned busi-
nesses across the U.S.
grew from 1.9 million
to 2.6 million. As the econo-
my continues growing, these
numbers are only expected
to increase, but our nation’s
Black businesses face a host
of challenges, including ac-
cess to a skilled workforce.
Currently, there are more
than 6.1 million open jobs in
the U.S. This is a significant
roadblock for Black employ-
ers across the country, who
want to continue expanding
and growing their operations.
That’s why it’s time for
Washington to take a serious
look at the skills gap and sup-
port policies that create op-
portunities for our work-ca-
pable adults.
The House Agriculture
Committee is proposing leg-
islation to help provide these
opportunities for the unem-
ployed and underemployed
using one of our nation’s
anti-poverty programs, the
Supplemental Nutrition As-
sistance Program (SNAP).
The bill aims to help
work-capable adults receiv-
ing SNAP secure employ-
ment to improve their lives.
Americans in poverty should
be supported by government
assistance that aims to gradu-
ate users into the mainstream
economy. And the new bill
implements and mandates
Coming
shortly
after
Trump’s unilateral decision
to move the American embas-
sy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem
— a decision that was publi-
cally condemned by dozens
of world leaders — the Israeli
political establishment has
thumbed its nose at the in-
ternational community, once
again. To add insult to inju-
ry, the Israeli political estab-
lishment and their allies in
the United States continue to
relentlessly pursue efforts to
suppress non-violent oppo-
sition to Israeli government
policy, i.e., opposition to boy-
cott/divestment/sanctions,
as a tactic to pressure groups
fighting
for
Palestinian
rights.
For those of us who consis-
tently oppose racism, annex-
ations and apartheid, 2018
must represent a continua-
tion of the struggle for Pal-
estinian rights and freedom.
There is no room to back
down. The Israeli govern-
ment has made its stand more
than clear: there are no Pal-
estinian rights that they feel
bound to respect.
Bill Fletcher, Jr. is a talk show
host, writer and activist. Follow
him on Twitter @BillFletcher-
Jr, Facebook and at www.billf-
letcherjr.com.
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