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 billions in cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) proposed by Senate Republicans.
“Republicans’ proposed cuts to SNAP continue to be devastating to families in need, push a major financial burden onto states, and cause farmers and independent grocers who already operate on thin margins to lose billions in revenue.
“SNAP serves 16 million kids, 8 million seniors, 4 million people with disabilities, and more than 1 million veterans.
“While some changes were made to the food assistance cuts, this bill continues to include an unprecedented cost shift, forcing tens of billions of SNAP costs onto state governments for the first time. Because nearly every state has balanced budget rules, states will almost certainly have to cut SNAP eligibility, benefits, or both, or choose between food assistance and other critical needs, like education, health, and public safety.
“And over the next decade, cuts to SNAP will cost farmers tens of billions in revenue because Americans will not be able to buy their products. Our farmers are already facing major headwinds - we shouldn’t make it even harder.
“Bipartisan Farm Bills have long been upheld by a broad coalition of farm, conservation, rural development, research, and nutrition groups. We need a Farm Bill that delivers for all of rural America.”
###