Act to Save SNAP Before It’s Too Late

“It’s a moral issue, it’s a values issue.  We should be making sure that no person in America goes hungry.”  - Sen. Patty Murray

 

On May 15th, members of Backpack Brigade had the privilege of attending a listening session hosted by Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA).  Among the speakers at this event were a representative range of anti-hunger activists, food bank representatives, farmers, senior service organizations, and ordinary people, all gathered to tell stories of why the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – also known as food stamps – is so critical to the health and well-being of millions of Washingtonians.

As you know if you’ve been following the news on the current House budget proposal, Congress is considering dramatic cuts to public safety-net programs, most notably SNAP and Medicaid.  In fact, they are proposing to cut $230 billion from the SNAP budget over the next 10 years.  The budget additionally imposes heavy restrictions on who can qualify for SNAP benefits, and increases the shared cost of program administration on the states.  To put it in perspective, under the proposed cost sharing structure, the State of Washington would have had to come up with an additional $432 million last year to cover its share of program administration. 

But this is a highly removed way to think about hunger. Politics and budget proposals don't illustrate the devastating consequences of cuts that, as Sen. Murray noted, "only take food away from people who need it most."  The urgency of the situation becomes apparent when we hear the stories from people who have experienced hunger first-hand, and from all those organizations who are fighting a losing battle against hunger every day.  Here are a few quotes from speakers at Sen. Murray’s listening session.

“I signed up for SNAP benefits to get formula for my infant son when my milk dried up.  It saved his life.  I was able to first feed him and then myself so I could care for him.”  - Alina Swart, Mother

“Work is hard to find in the winter and local families depend on SNAP to keep them going through to the next growing season.” – Eddie Alvarez, Alvarez Organic Farms

“In our rural region SNAP cuts would be devastating.  SNAP works – it protects children and stabilizes households.” – Carla Rankin, Arlington Food Bank

“Since 2024, we have seen a 24% increase in senior households receiving food assistance.”  - Jody Stoltz, Director, Tenino Community Service Center

Here at Backpack Brigade, we are extremely concerned about the proposed cuts.  One hundred percent of the kids who receive our food bags are also receiving another form of food assistance.  These kids are struggling to get enough to eat, and reducing critical food assistance programs is going to have massive negative impacts on children and families across the state and across the nation.  Not just short-term.  Abundant research shows that kids who experience periods of food insecurity and malnutrition have worse long-term health, poor educational outcomes, and fewer economic advantages than kids with regular access to food.  This is UNACCEPTABLE in Washington, and completely unacceptable in America.

It's not too late to try to halt these devastating cuts. Here are some things you can do right now.  But don’t delay – the bill is advancing and if it passes, America’s kids will pay the price.

HOW TO HELP

TODAY:

• Call or write your congress person.  Tell them that cutting food assistance programs is unacceptable and you oppose any cuts to food assistance.  Encourage them to vote “NO” on this bill.

• Spread the word.  Use your social media platforms to let your family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues know that this is happening and how bad it will be for our country’s kids.  Use hashtags #HandsOffSnap and #ProtectSNAP to connect with larger national campaigns.

• Call or email your Senators. Tell them you oppose cuts to food assistance programs and to vote NO on any bill that comes up from the House that doesn’t fully fund SNAP. In Washington, these are:

  • Sen. Patty Murray

  • Sen. Maria Cantwell

GOING FORWARD:

• Support your local food bank.  Food banks are a lifeline for people of all ages and the primary food assistance resource within most communities.

• Support anti-hunger organizations such as Backpack Brigade.  We are the boots on the ground identifying and filling gaps in food access for people in need.  Whether children, seniors, the disabled, or anyone in need of special access to food and services, these organizations are making sure no one is forgotten.

• Become an advocate.  Be LOUD about the ongoing crisis of hunger in America.  Don’t stand for it – stand up against it.  Recruit your network and ask them to stand up against hunger, too. 

• Get Into It.  Fundraise.  Organize a coordinated call effort.  Gather your people and volunteer as a group. In a time of funding uncertainty, we can still get things done as a community.  Together, we can put an end to hunger.