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In Opposition to Proposed SNAP Cuts

Floor Speech

Date: May 15, 2013
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Agriculture and Food Government Budget and Spending

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, today the Agriculture Committee marks up a farm bill, cutting $20 billion from food support for the poorest, most vulnerable Americans. The Republican SNAP cuts will cut 210,000 children off the school lunch program and deny 2 million Americans food.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP, is a lifeline for nearly 50 million Americans to have access to healthy, affordable food and avoid hunger. More than half of SNAP recipients live in deep poverty. That's an income of less than $10,000 a year for a family of three. Right now, the daily SNAP benefit is $3.78.

Two out of three SNAP recipients in Minnesota are poor children, seniors and adults with disabilities. To reduce the budget deficit by inflicting hunger on children, seniors and people with disabilities is simply immoral.

I urge my colleagues to reject this cruel and harmful proposal to increase hunger in America.


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