Oppose House Agriculture Farm Bill Proposal That Weakens SNAP and Cuts Future Benefits |
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House Agriculture Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson (R-PA) released a Farm Bill framework and summary that proposes cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) at a time of stagnant wages, high costs of living, and rising food insecurity. The Chairman’s Farm Bill proposal cuts an estimated $30B in SNAP benefits over the next decade by restricting future updates to the Thrifty Food Plan, thereby weakening SNAP’s purchasing power and threatening the adequacy of food benefits. In NY, this proposal would result in a loss of: - $2B in SNAP benefits over ten years, reducing food benefits for 2.9M New Yorkers.
- $3.63B in total local economic activity, impacting 16,700+ SNAP retailers in our state.
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Take Action Today: Weigh in with your House Member —especially House Democrats and those on the House Agriculture Committee—and urge them to oppose Chairman Thompson’s Farm Bill and to speak out against SNAP cuts. For those on the House Agriculture Committee, ask them to vote “No” on the bill at Committee markup. |
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Additional Background: The “Farm Bill” is the federal vehicle that authorizes spending for SNAP, Summer EBT, TEFAP, Senior Farmers Markets and other nutrition programs as well as farm subsidies and conservation. The Thrifty Food Plan (TFP) estimates the lowest cost for a nutritious, practical, cost-effective diet a family can prepare at home. This estimate is used to determine maximum SNAP benefit allotments, Summer EBT benefits, and TEFAP funding—all critical anti-hunger programs. In 2021, under direction from the bipartisan 2018 Farm Bill, the USDA updated the TFP for the first time in fifty years, aligning the plan with current dietary guidelines and purchasing patterns. That update led to a modest but meaningful increase in SNAP benefits, from an average of $4.80 to $6.20 per person per day, making a real difference for families at risk of running out of food before the end of the month. |
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