Republicans in the House and Senate are proposing to slash more than $230 billion from SNAP and school nutrition programs in order to fund more tax handouts for the wealthy and billion-dollar corporations. But it’s far from a done deal.
SNAP is not only our most effective anti-hunger program, it plays a crucial role in reducing poverty and improving health and economic outcomes. It’s also linked to better education outcomes and self-sufficiency, and plays an important role in supporting rural communities.
SNAP is one of the most cost-effective government programs in existence. Every dollar spent on SNAP generates $1.80 in local communities. Cuts to SNAP and school nutrition programs will have devastating consequences for generations to come.
Individual states currently pay a portion of the cost of administering SNAP, while the federal government pays the actual benefits. Implementing a $230 billion cut could force states to take on a portion of the cost of nutrition benefits for the first time, a radical change in the program that could lead to drastic cuts, increasing wait times for approval for benefits, or put a huge squeeze on states leading to slashed investments in other programs.
Cutting SNAP (and Medicaid, another right-wing target) also makes it harder for eligible families to obtain free or reduced-price school meals, summer food assistance for school-aged children (Summer EBT), and WIC benefits. School meal programs and Summer EBT automatically enroll eligible children using SNAP and Medicaid, while WIC agencies use automated systems to check for SNAP or Medicaid eligibility. In addition, the House Budget Committee has put forth numerous specific budget-cutting proposals, including a $12 billion cut to free school breakfast and lunch programs, affecting 24,000 schools nationwide.
Cutting funding for nutrition programs in order to pay for some of Trump’s $4.5 trillion tax handout―mostly to the wealthy and corporations―is an abomination.
Watch the recording of this webinar here.
With the passage of the American Rescue Plan, additional much-needed immediate help for COVID-19 pandemic recovery is on the way. Now President Biden is proposing an additional package of investments on infrastructure and human needs. Join CHN and Sharon Parrott, the new president of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, in a conversation about how we must seize the opportunity to build a sustainable recovery by addressing the already existing racial, health, and economic inequities that the pandemic has deepened.
For further details, see this foundation piece from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: Building an Equitable Recovery Requires Investing in Children, Supporting Workers, and Expanding Health Coverage.
This webinar will be closed-captioned. Even if you can’t attend be sure to register to get a recording of the webinar and other resources. Watch the recording of this webinar below.