Snap Benefits Are Needed By 42 Million Americans

Floor Speech

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Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I know what it is like to grow up hungry.

I know the feeling, as a young girl, opening the refrigerator, only to see the water jug.

I know what it's like growing up on government-provided commodity food--cheese, peanut butter, oatmeal.

This Farm Bill proposal cuts more than $30 Billion from SNAP for what?

I want my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to explain why.

I want them to explain to the single mom at the grocery store whose hours are being cut because the store isn't making enough revenue or to the farmer trying to keep the farm afloat for the next generation, who relies on the grocery store to make payments.

Most importantly, I want them to be able to explain this to the children in my district.

Texas ranks second worst in the nation for hunger, and if these cuts do become a reality, Texas will receive $2.3 billion less in SNAP benefits.

Let me repeat that: $2.3 billion.

In my district, SNAP serves over 57,000 households.

These cuts would have a devastating impact on children, seniors, and individuals with disabilities.

It's a shame that House Republicans are weakening our ability to feed the most vulnerable members of our communities.

Instead of attacking SNAP, we must improve and protect it.

I know that the dysfunction of this Congress can mess with our sense of reality. So let me remind you:

The Farm Bill has long been a way to connect Republicans and Democrats, rural and urban, to serve all Americans. It reminds us that small places can do big things.

So, it is very sad that Republicans are holding out on farmers, families, and our neighbors. I mean, why are we balancing budgets on the bellies of hungry children?

We must put people over politics. We must put kids over cruelty. We must feed our kids and our communities.

I oppose any cuts to SNAP. I oppose these harmful choices made by my colleagues on the other side of the aisle.

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