SNAP, colloquially known as food stamps, is facing up to $20.5 billion in budget cuts. The proposed cuts would worsen food insecurity hunger in millions of Americans, hitting the most vulnerable the hardest, including children and senior citizens. Here’s what you need to know:
- The 2013 version of the farm bill, which greatly influences the nation’s food policy, passed the Senate last week with $4 billion in cuts to SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)
- The bill moves on to the U.S. House of Representatives this week, where they are considering cutting $20.5 billion to SNAP.
- · The proposed house cuts are five times of those in the senate proposed Farm Bill.
- · The cuts would take effect in October and will lower the average SNAP benefit from about $1.50 per person to $1.30 per person.
- · Low-income children who receive food assistance have better health outcomes than low-income children without such benefits.
- · In the House Farm Bill, half of the savings in the entire bill are coming from SNAP.
Call 1-855-488-2253 to urge your local representative to protect SNAP!