DON’T MAKE PARENTS CHOOSE BETWEEN FOOD & FAMILY October 24, 2018 The Honorable Kirstjen M. Nielsen Secretary U.S. Department of Homeland Security 3801 Nebraska Ave NW Washington, DC 20528 Dear Secretary Nielsen, As chefs and culinary professionals, we stand in opposition to the Department of Homeland Security’s proposed Public Charge Rule that would increase childhood hunger and put the health and well-being of millions of children across America at risk. As culinary leaders who are at the intersection of food and community, we know that investing in our nation’s children makes us a stronger country. 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. If enacted, the proposed Public Charge Rule will make it harder, not easier, for the civic leaders, innovators, and even chefs of tomorrow to reach their full potential. Please join Share Our Strength and all of us in asking the Administration to withdraw this deeply flawed proposal. Sincerely, Chef José Andrés & the undersigned chefs Alexis Jones, Alabama Phoebe Charles, Iowa Joseph Johnson, New York Drew Robinson, Alabama Samuel Charles, Iowa Anita Lo, New York Matthew Bell, Arkansas Annie Pettry, Kentucky Seamus Mullen, New York Matthew McClure, Arkansas Jonathan Searle, Kentucky Bill Telepan, New York Chris Cosentino, California Ryan Prewitt, Louisiana Cheetie Kumar, North Carolina Traci Des Jardins, California Arlin Smith, Maine Jason Campbell, Oklahoma Tanya Holland, California Zachary Mills, Maryland Chris DiMinno, Oregon Bruce Kalman, California Louis DiBiccari, Massachusetts Jason French, Oregon Michael Voltaggio, California Andy Husbands, Massachusetts Sarah Schafer, Oregon Carrie Baird, Colorado Matthew Jennings, Massachusetts Nicholas Elmi, Pennsylvania Jeremy Kittelson, Colorado Michael P. Scelfo, Massachusetts Matthew Varga, Rhode Island Paul Reilly, Colorado Andrew Zimmern, Minnesota Sanaa Abourezk, South Dakota Dana Rodriguez, Colorado John Currence, Mississippi Lisa Donovan, Tennessee Alex Seidel, Colorado Gerard Craft, Missouri Kelly English, Tennessee Tyler Anderson, Connecticut Joe West, Missouri Julia Sullivan, Tennessee Tiffany MacIsaac, District of Columbia Tiffany Newman, Montana John Brand, Texas Kevin Tien, District of Columbia Carlos Guia, Nevada Michael Fojtasek, Texas Timon Balloo, Florida Matt Louis, New Hampshire Bryce Gilmore, Texas Zach Bell, Florida Christopher Cannon, New Jersey Justin Nelson, Utah Cesar Zapata, Florida Dale Talde, New Jersey Jason Alley, Virginia Hugh Acheson, Georgia Michael Anthony, New York Joy Crump, Virginia Adam Hegsted, Idaho Amanda Cohen, New York Tom Douglas, Washington Sieger Bayer, Illinois Leah Cohen, New York Sparrow Huffman, West Virginia Jason Vincent, Illinois Chris Jaeckle, New York Juan Coronado, Wyoming.