WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, the House Committee on Agriculture proposed nearly $230 billion in cuts by slashing funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a program that has proven effective in making our communities healthier and our economy stronger. On top of this, the House Energy and Commerce Committee released their proposal late Sunday night to cut Medicaid by hundreds of billions, a move that will take away health insurance from nearly nine million Americans, according to official estimates from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).
The following statement can be attributed to Jessica Thompson, Senior Vice President at The Institute for College Access & Success (TICAS):
“The loss of food and healthcare benefits will create immediate health and well-being consequences for those who rely on them. This includes nearly 1 in 4 college students nationwide who report experiencing food insecurity. With this move, the House threatens long-term damage by undermining low-income students’ ability to complete a degree or credential, making economic mobility harder to achieve.
“Additionally, stricter work requirements for both programs will hit hardest in communities with limited job opportunities. This will only serve to prevent participation in SNAP or Medicaid and make it even tougher to pursue the education and training most likely to lead to long-term self-sufficiency.
“If passed, the proposal would significantly strain state budgets by increasing their cost share—including, for the first time ever, requiring states to cover a portion of SNAP benefits. States cannot afford to bear the brunt of costs from cuts to essential services like SNAP and Medicaid. And history is clear: when states face budget crises, higher education is among the first on the chopping block.
“The combined impact of stricter work requirements and cost-shifting means fewer people will access benefits, and even fewer will access the pathways out of needing them. Lawmakers must reject this proposal and instead address the ongoing food insecurity and healthcare gaps that millions of Americans face.”
