Wisconsin Hunger Relief Advocates Urge Strong Support for SNAP Ahead of Farm Bill Deadline
Wisconsin Advocates Worry as Congress Blocks SNAP Inflation Adjustments, Cuts Loom for Food Assistance Program
With Congress back in session for a short two-week period before the August break advocates in Wisconsin are worried about the future of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This program helps over 700,000 people in the state get food. However, House Republicans have blocked efforts to allow the White House to adjust benefits for inflation. Meghan Roh from Opportunity Wisconsin says that without these adjustments and many families will struggle to afford food.
The Congressional Budget Office says that the proposed changes would cut $30 billion from future SNAP benefits. Wisconsin U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden voted to keep the adjustments blocked and accused Democrats of lying about cuts to benefits. Other Republicans say their plan protects SNAP from future presidents who might want to reduce benefits on their own. Suzanne Becker from the Feed My People Food Bank in Eau Claire argues that politics should not interfere with helping people especially as her food bank is seeing more families in need.
(photo: KERA News)
Ensuring Food Security for Vulnerable Populations
With the September deadline to renew the Farm Bill coming up hunger relief advocates in Wisconsin stress the importance of SNAP. Becker says that while nonprofits do their best they can’t match the help that SNAP provides. She believes it’s crucial to keep strong support for the program so that everyone especially older adults and working families can get the food they need, according to the report of Public News Services.
