House Committee proposes $160 Billion in SNAP Cuts

The U.S. House Budget Committee has proposed $160 billion in cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): $150 billion in funding cuts over the next 10 years and an immediate $10 billion budget reduction. These cuts would dramatically impact the 42 million Americans—almost half of whom are children—who already struggle with hunger. 

The long-term cuts would come from proposed structural changes to SNAP, including stricter work requirements and time limits for receiving benefits.  As a result, more people in need will have to turn to the emergency food assistance system for help.

As our first line of defense against hunger, SNAP provides seniors, the disabled, children and families with a food safety net. Even at current levels, SNAP recipients all too often find that their benefits do not last to the end of the month, and they must supplement their benefits with trips to their local food pantry.

Massachusetts Representative Jim McGovern, a tireless hunger advocate, renounced the proposed SNAP cuts during a hearing on the Farm Bill:

“SNAP is a vital, important program that millions of families rely on to put food on the table. And it’s not a particularly generous benefit. The average benefit is about $1.40 per person per meal. You can’t even buy a cup of coffee for that. That’s why many SNAP recipients end up at food banks at the end of the month.”

The Greater Boston Food Bank believes hunger is a non-partisan issue, and no one in our country should ever go hungry.

We need your help

Please contact your federal legislators, state legislators, and Governor Baker to ask them to speak out against these proposed SNAP cuts and support the protection of this critical nutrition assistance program.

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