Klobuchar Statement on Proposed Cuts to SNAP

Washington – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, released the following statement on the over $290 billion in cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), proposed by Republicans on the House Agriculture Committee.

“Instead of working with Democrats to lower costs from President Trump’s across-the-board tariffs, House Republicans have decided to pull the rug out from under families by cutting the SNAP benefits that 42 million Americans rely on to put food on the table – all to fund a tax cut for billionaires. That’s shameful,” said Ranking Member Klobuchar. 

“This means more seniors, veterans, people with disabilities and children will go to bed hungry. It means farmers, who are already operating on razor-thin margins, will see billions in lost revenue. It will mean job losses and lost wages for everyone who is a part of the food system – from truck drivers to local grocers. And ultimately, these cuts threaten the Farm Bill coalition that has delivered bipartisan support for farmers, families and rural communities for decades, and will make it harder for Congress to pass a bipartisan Farm Bill.” 

Here’s what Republicans are proposing:

• Republicans are asking states to cover the difference: As a part of the bill, House Republicans put forth a cost-share proposal that would shift tens of billions in SNAP costs onto states – creating an unfunded mandate that would almost certainly require states to cut benefits and eligibility. The House Republican cost shift has three major components, a base cost shift of 5% of benefit costs, additional cost shifts based on state error rates, and significant new requirements for states to cover 75% of administrative costs.

• Creating stricter work and eligibility requirements: The bill creates additional eligibility restrictions on SNAP benefits. Currently, adults ages 18- 54, without children in their household, can receive food benefits for just three months in a three-year period unless they show compliance with a 20-hour-per-week work requirement or prove they qualify for an exemption, such as having a disability. Now, Republicans are seeking to expand these restrictions to older adults ages 55-64. The Republican proposal also extends this time limit to parents with school aged children aged 7-18. The House bill also limits USDA’s ability to give states the flexibility to waive work requirements in areas or times of poor economic conditions. This could take food away from millions of people in low-income households who are struggling to find steady work in an uncertain economy.

• Limiting future adjustments to SNAP benefits to account for changes in diet and food supply: The House Republican bill limits USDA’s ability to adjust SNAP benefits in the future to respond to changes in diet and food supply. 

• Reducing benefits for households with internet and utility costs: The House bill will reduce the cost of the SNAP benefits by removing the ability of households to deduct the cost of internet service. Republicans are also eliminating a household’s ability to claim a utility cost deduction when they receive benefits through this Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). 

Beyond the immediate impact cuts will have on SNAP recipients, cuts to SNAP benefits will also create downstream economic harms. Last week, the National Grocers Association, which represents America’s independent grocers, released a report that found SNAP funding supports approximately 388,000 jobs and $20 billion in direct wages, creating $4.5 billion in state and federal tax revenue.

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