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Health & Fitness

Why I Voted to Protect Nutrition Assistance

In the richest nation in the world, far too many families suffer from hunger and malnutrition —often not knowing where their next meal will come from.  Five years after one of the largest economic meltdowns in our nation’s history, food insecurity remains at record levels. Regardless of these facts, Congressional Republicans decided yesterday was the time to impose severe, harmful cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

During the debate over SNAP cuts, there have been a number of distortions and misleading arguments used. To set the record straight: nearly half of SNAP recipients are children; in Illinois, recipients receive a miniscule $1.55 per meal, $4.65 per day; and more than 90 percent of SNAP recipients are households living below the poverty line.

To secure their drastic cuts to the program, Republicans stripped the nutrition provision from the Farm Bill—in which it traditionally is included—and doubled the cut to a shocking $40 billion. This intensely partisan bill (every Democrat and 15 Republicans voted against it) is roundly opposed by seniors, charities, homeless groups, religious institutions and farmers for extending cuts too far.

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Our economy is still far from a full recovery, making these misguided and irresponsible cuts all the more hurtful. The Senate proposed $4 billion in cuts.  The Republican House cuts are 10 times deeper, and contain other, even harsher changes to the program. Families, seniors and veterans all across the country are all struggling to put food on the table. They need a hand up and a push forward, not yet another obstacle in their way.

Last week’s vote was about our values. There are sensible, long term reforms Congress can make to federal assistance programs that will uphold our values and not overburden seniors, children and working families, but these draconian SNAP cuts extend too far. This dramatic cut will hurt the most vulnerable in the midst of a fragile economic recovery. 

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