Media Contact:
Jordan Baker
jbaker@frac.org
202-640-1118
Statement attributable to Crystal FitzSimons, president, Food Research & Action Center
WASHINGTON, January 26, 2026 — Food over fear.
Our nation’s budget is a statement of our values. Funding decisions should reflect our shared vision for a strong and prosperous America and strengthen our communities, not weaken them.
Yet after the budget reconciliation law (H.R. 1) slashed billions from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and other programs that help families make ends meet, the Senate is now considering the funding bill for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which includes additional funding on top of the $170 billion already allocated to support Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Control, which have been using deadly force and intimidation tactics that are weakening and terrorizing communities around the country.
We urge the Senate to vote no on the Department of Homeland Security funding legislation. Safeguards must be put in place to protect people from harm and ensure that they are treated with respect and dignity.
The math doesn’t add up when Congress chooses to invest in sowing fear and harm over helping families keep food on the table.
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The Food Research & Action Center improves the nutrition, health, and well-being of people struggling against poverty-related hunger in the United States through advocacy, partnerships, and by advancing bold and equitable policy solutions. To learn more, visit FRAC.org and follow us on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky.