DeLauro Denounces Trump's Proposed Changes to Food Stamp Eligibility

Statement

Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) today released the following statement after the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) published a proposed rule that would take away Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits from more than 3 million people.

"President Trump and Secretary Perdue are waging a war against the most vulnerable people in our country. Their proposed changes to SNAP--which would eliminate states' current ability to set SNAP eligibility requirements for families--will put more than 3 million people at-risk of going hungry. And the rule will disproportionately hurt our youngsters. About 500,000 children would lose access to school meals if this rule were implemented. That is heartless. Worse still, the Trump Administration is using the rulemaking process in a desperate attempt to implement these cruel provisions because Congress rejected them in last year's Farm Bill."

"SNAP prevents more than 40 million people from going hungry--including 4.8 million seniors and 1.5 million low-income military veterans. That is an outcome that we should be proud of, because no one should go hungry in the United States. Despite the Trump Administration's belief, millions of people are not gaming the system of categorical eligibility within the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program to get food stamps. That belief underlies these proposed changes, and it will hurt millions of people. Secretary Purdue should immediately withdraw this proposed rule."

Source