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.
You can view an archive of this recording here.
Tuesday, April 24, 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time
SNAP, the nation’s most effective anti-hunger program, is under attack in the 2018 Farm Bill that’s moving through the House right now, possibly reaching the House floor as early as the week of May 7. The 2018 Farm Bill expected to be approved by the House Committee on Agriculture would make it harder for millions of people to put food on the table by taking away or reducing SNAP benefits for many struggling Americans, including parents raising kids, people with disabilities, older adults, and people who are working but struggling to get enough hours or get by on low wages. Many children will lose access to free school meals, too.
Please join this webinar to learn more about how the Farm Bill moving to the House floor would harm SNAP participants and communities across the country, the best messages to use when talking about the Farm Bill, and actions you can take in the coming days and weeks to protect SNAP. This webinar is co-sponsored by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the Coalition on Human Needs, Feeding America, and the Food Research & Action Center.
Please note that this webinar is geared towards advocates; it is not for legislative staff or members of the media and is not on the record.