Chairman Scott Responds to USDA Analysis Showing Nearly 1 Million Kids Would Lose Automatic Access for Free Schools Under Proposed Cuts to SNAP

Statement

Today, Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) released the following statement in response to an internal analysis released by the Department of Agriculture (USDA) showing nearly one million children will lose automatic access to free school meals under its proposed changes to eligibility for the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP).

"The internal analysis released by the Department of Agriculture shows that the impact of its proposed rule would be even worse than we had feared. According to its own projections, the proposed changes to SNAP eligibility would eliminate automatic access for free school meals for nearly one million children, and roughly half of those children would no longer be eligible for free school meals at all.

"Even for those who remain eligible, forcing low-income families to navigate the burdensome paperwork will inevitably lead to eligible children losing access to a critical source of daily nutrition.

"While I appreciate that the USDA finally released its analysis, which I requested several times over the last three months, this small step forward in transparency is overshadowed by a tremendous step backward in the fight against child hunger. It is now abundantly clear that the Department needs to abandon its proposed rule. I look forward to asking the Department to justify its proposal at this afternoon's hearing."

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