Media Contact:
Emily Pickren
epickren@frac.org
202-640-1118
Statement attributed to Jim Weill, president, Food Research & Action Center.
WASHINGTON, October 5, 2017 — “The budget resolution passed by the House will push millions of already struggling people deeper into poverty, and without question, will make hunger far, far worse in this country. It inflicts harm on children, seniors, people with disabilities, veterans, working families earning low wages, and people looking for work. It includes massive tax cuts heavily tilted toward the wealthy that will increase inequality and build pressure to reduce spending that helps the neediest Americans. These tax cuts, moreover, will ultimately be paid for by stripping down programs, including SNAP, school meals, TANF, SSI, low-income tax credits, Medicare, Medicaid, and others that help the poor and struggling middle class.
“SNAP is the nation’s first line of defense against hunger. It helps put food on the table for more than 41 million low-income people and improves their health, education and economic outcomes.
“SNAP is one of the nation’s very best investments, and it is unacceptable that this proven and effective program is on the chopping block. The budget includes instructions to the House Agriculture Committee to make $10 billion in cuts over 10 years to programs in its jurisdiction — a reduction clearly pointed at SNAP. The budget also calls for another $150 billion in SNAP cuts through benefit and eligibility restrictions and structural changes.
“We call on Congress to right this wrong and reject this budget. In the months to come, FRAC will be working with allies in agriculture, nutrition, conservation, rural development, and other anti-hunger and anti-poverty groups across the country to defeat this budget that causes such deep harm to the nation now and in the future.
“Congress must return to its bipartisan tradition of protecting nutrition assistance programs and work to produce a budget that addresses the needs of all — not just the wealthiest among us.”
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The Food Research & Action Center is the leading national nonprofit organization working to eradicate poverty-related hunger and undernutrition in the United States.
