Chefs oppose bid, cite child hunger

WASHINGTON — Two Arkansas chefs signed a letter this week opposing the “Public Charge Rule” that has been drafted by the administration of President Donald Trump.

The proposal would make it harder for foreigners to qualify for permanent residency or citizenship if they have received public assistance or are likely to need public assistance in the future.

Those who accept government-subsidized health care or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (food stamp) benefits today might jeopardize their ability to stay in the country long-term.

Share Our Strength, a nonprofit group dedicated to ending child hunger, drafted the letter, which appeared Wednesday in Roll Call, a Capitol Hill newspaper.

“Forcing legal immigrant families to choose between ensuring their children get the nutrition, health care and stable housing they need and their legal status doesn’t reflect the values that make America strong,” the letter said.

Chefs from across the country added their names to it.

The signers included Matthew McClure, a chef at The Hive in Bentonville and a James Beard Award “Best Chef: South” semifinalist in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.

Also listed was South on Main owner Matthew Bell. The Little Rock establishment was labeled the best restaurant in Arkansas by

Business Insider in 2015. Bell, a longtime supporter of No Kid Hungry, travels to Washington periodically to lobby for anti-hunger programs directed at children.

In an interview, he said he fears that young ones will suffer if their parents are afraid to seek help when they need it.

“At the end of the day, it’s just going to increase childhood hunger,” he said.

The Public Charge Rule, if approved, will “make it harder for children to grow up happy, healthy and strong,” he added.