“This SNAP crisis is too dangerous to ignore,” said Kelemen. “Already, more than 4 million people have lost their grocery benefits since the SNAP cuts were enacted, and this number will only increase if Congress fails to provide states with the time needed to responsibly implement these provisions.”
Contact: Ryan Flaherty, rflaherty@strength.org
WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Senate Agriculture Chair John Boozman released the text of his proposed Farm Bill, which reauthorizes the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and other key nutrition and farm programs. The House of Representatives has already passed its own version of the Farm Bill. Both chambers will need to agree on a final bill. The following is a statement from George Kelemen, senior vice president for Share Our Strength and its No Kid Hungry campaign:
“While we're disappointed that this initial Farm Bill does not include a delay of the SNAP administrative and benefit cost-shift, we call on the Committee to engage in a bipartisan process to pass legislation that protects and strengthens our nation's most effective anti-hunger program after more than 4 million people have lost access to SNAP. It is critical that all states have access to a delay, not just the states with the highest error rates.
“The nearly $200 billion in SNAP cuts signed into law last year included cost-sharing provisions that will threaten states ability to continue providing SNAP benefits and other essential programs. Rising prices are making it harder for families to afford basic necessities. 1 in 3 parents with low incomes say they cannot always afford enough food for their kids. That’s why SNAP’s grocery benefit, which helps feed about 40 million Americans including nearly 16 million children, is a vital support for helping them put food on the table.
“This SNAP crisis is too dangerous to ignore. Already, more than 4 million people have lost their grocery benefits since the SNAP cuts were enacted, and this number will only increase if Congress fails to provide states with the time needed to responsibly implement these provisions. Reasonable steps must be included in this Farm Bill to delay the cost-sharing until states have the time they need to implement all the complex changes handed to them.
“We look forward to working with the Senate Agriculture Committee through a bipartisan markup and negotiation process to ensure that the Farm Bill or other farm relief legislation gives states the necessary time to balance their budgets and meet the new requirements without causing chaos and confusion for families. We’re on the precipice of a national spike in child hunger if Congress doesn’t act quickly.”
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About No Kid Hungry
No child should go hungry in America. But millions of kids in the United States live with hunger. No Kid Hungry is working to end childhood hunger by helping launch and improve programs that give all kids the healthy food they need to thrive. This is a problem we know how to solve. No Kid Hungry is a campaign of Share Our Strength, an organization committed to ending hunger and poverty.