Food Insecurity in America

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, the House Republicans released their proposed agricultural funding bill this morning, and there is no doubt that they are ready to cut nutrition benefits.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to defend the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.

When I worked my way through college, I used assistance--called food stamps at the time--so I would have enough to eat.

My experience is not unique. More than 34 million people in the United States are food insecure. Every day millions of Americans rely on SNAP to help them put food on the table for themselves and for their families.

SNAP is our most effective anti-hunger program, and we should be improving its vital benefits. Unfortunately, my colleagues across the aisle are doing the opposite.

Under the House Republicans' budget bill, which should be called the default on America act, many people across the country, including many seniors, will lose access to this critical assistance.

My colleagues claim their benefit cuts will get people back to work and reduce our national debt, but taking food assistance away from vulnerable Americans will not help anyone find work, it will just make them hungry.

Balancing the budget on the backs of low-income seniors is shameful. Unlike the default in America act, the bill I will soon introduce will increase access to SNAP benefits for our Nation's most vulnerable seniors.

My Senior Hunger Prevention Act will reduce food insecurity and raise the value of SNAP benefits so seniors can live and age with dignity.

Additionally, the first bill I introduced this Congress is designed to eliminate barriers for college students accessing SNAP benefits.

Students of any age can't learn when they are hungry, and we know that they are more likely to succeed in the classroom when they are not worried about where their next meal is coming from.

Mr. Speaker, strengthening SNAP should not be a partisan issue. I also support the bills that several of our colleagues have introduced that will improve our food security programs.

Following last year's White House Conference on Hunger, and as we consider the farm bill, Congress must make it a priority to get assistance to those who need it most.

Mr. Speaker, we are at a critical moment to take action to end hunger, and the default on America act is not the answer. We must strengthen SNAP, not cut it.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source