Leran Minc
A sad moment for Americans, the United States Senate passed their version of the budget, which is undeniably the most devastating attack on food assistance in our lifetime. Mirroring the House of Representatives’ May proposal to cut nearly $300 billion from SNAP, commonly known as food stamps, the Senate bill perpetuates the unprecedented harm proposed in the budget reconciliation package.
“This bill knowingly puts the health and wellbeing of millions of Americans at risk,” says Erin McAleer, CEO of Project Bread—the leading food security organization in Massachusetts. “People will go hungry.” At a time when 1 in 5 households in Massachusetts face hunger, food costs continue to rise, and we grapple with the reality that working full time no longer guarantees being able to feed yourself or your family, the proposed cuts would take away a lifeline that millions of Americans count on to meet their most basic need for food.
Massachusetts mother of three Janin Otero understands deeply the impact of the proposed SNAP cuts. Otero has worked as a cook for years in various restaurants and organizations, and she has experienced food insecurity herself while facing health and family challenges and navigating the pandemic. She’s currently finding it difficult to stretch her budget to cover the cost of food for the month even while receiving SNAP, but without SNAP, or with less funds, Otero doesn’t know how she would be able to be the mom that her young kids need, juggling two or more jobs to fill the gap.
“I will not eat if I don't have enough for my kids,” Otero shares. “A lot of the food insecurity my family faces affects me more because, as a mother, I will take the least amount to make sure that they're fed. It's not easy going to bed knowing that there's nothing in the fridge and no access to additional funds. I’ve started trying to grow my own food because it feels like a full-time job to look through all the circulars, look online, and try to track which stores have better deals than the others. If these SNAP cuts pass, I can just see it being a complete devastation.”
While Republican leaders in Congress describe these proposals as cost-saving measures, they are in fact cost- shifting proposals. The cost of food insecurity will be dumped onto states, businesses, healthcare systems, communities, and families. Unfortunately, many people will simply skip meals, purchase less nutrient dense groceries, or go into debt just to stay afloat. More than two-thirds of those receiving SNAP benefits are children, seniors, or people living with disabilities. These cuts would reduce access to the critical resources that millions of families rely on to survive. The bill will drive millions of families deeper into poverty and poor health.
In Massachusetts, federal dollars for SNAP benefits inject $2.4 billion in revenue into the local economy. That money helps over 1 million Massachusetts residents feed themselves and their families, is spent at over 5,500 Massachusetts businesses, and helps keep businesses afloat to pay their employees and keep prices affordable for everyone. Congress is proposing to shift up to $710 million in new costs onto Massachusetts’ state budget, which cannot be sustained.
Every dollar in SNAP benefits generates up to $1.80 in economic activity, creating a ripple effect that extends well beyond food assistance. SNAP, along with Medicaid, addresses the root causes of poor health and economic instability—food insecurity, poverty, and systemic inequality.
As this bill moves back to the House of Representatives, Project Bread and its partners are continuing to mobilize advocates to oppose this dangerous proposal in Congress. The nonprofit urges Americans to take immediate action and make their voices heard. SNAP currently helps more than 40 million Americans afford food. Congress still has an opportunity to change course and pass a bill that does not erode basic needs programs.
Key Proposals in the Senate Spending Bill:
Shift up to 15% of SNAP program costs and an additional 25% of administrative costs from federal to state funding. In addition to cuts to Medicaid and other programs, this would place an unsustainable burden on state budgets.
Create stricter work and eligibility requirements for older adults, up to the age of 65, and parents of children aged 14-18, adding more red tape for low-income families already juggling caregiving and economic insecurity.
Limit future adjustments to SNAP benefits by only allowing increases based on inflation. Every SNAP recipient would see the purchasing power of their benefits steadily decrease.
Eliminate SNAP eligibility for legally present immigrants, including refugees and asylees who have been granted legal status based on well-founded fears of persecution or fleeing war-torn countries. This is estimated to harm up 20,000 to 25,000 legally present immigrants living in Massachusetts.
These proposed changes are devastating to American families, and now is the time for us to stand up and protect access to food and economic stability for our neighbors.