Fight Back Against SNAP Cuts: Save Our Kids' Futures!

Listen up, America! We're in the midst of a battle that could change the lives of millions of children across the country. The House-passed Republican reconciliation plan is proposing to cut nearly $300 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) through 2034. This is the largest cut to SNAP in history, and it's going to have devastating consequences for low-income families and children.

Why is this a big deal?

1. Hunger on the Rise: Millions of people will lose some or all of the food assistance they need to afford groceries. This is happening at a time when many low-income households are already struggling to afford the high cost of food and other basic needs.

2. School Meals at Risk: The proposed cuts to SNAP will also impact school meal programs. The House Republican plan would restrict the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), which allows high poverty schools to offer free school meals to all students. This could cut more than 24,000 schools, serving 12 million students, from the program.

3. Long-Term Effects: Hunger, including childhood hunger, would soar. Every $1 invested in SNAP for children returns $62 in value over the long-term. The proposed cuts to SNAP would also increase child poverty and hardship, putting all children at risk of losing some or all of their benefits based on how states respond to the deep cut in federal funding.

4. Economic Repercussions: If the federal government reduces its share of SNAP administrative costs, states and local communities could face significant economic repercussions. States are required to balance their budgets each year, so taking on additional costs would require them to either raise an equal amount of revenue or cut funding for other public services that people count on, like education, transportation, or health care.

What can you do to help?

1. Keep Calling: Dial up the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121 to make sure your senators hear you tell them to vote no on the reconciliation bill. They must protect SNAP and reject proposals to cut or weaken this proven anti-hunger program. You can share in your message how cuts to SNAP limit school meals.

2. Get Loud on Social Media: Tag your senators in your posts and ask them to vote no. Use FRAC’s digital toolkit to find sample posts and graphics. And use the hashtag #ProtectSNAP.

3. Write to Your Elected Officials: Send a letter urging them to vote no on the bill. This template will empower you to tell your members of Congress they must oppose any legislation that cuts SNAP or Medicaid, the federal healthcare program for people struggling with poverty. We owe it to our communities not to leave working families behind.

4. Share Your Story: If you can, mention your own work experiences, which will help your elected officials understand what a horrible toll this bill would take on people’s health and children’s access to school meals.

Don't let this happen!

The proposed cuts to SNAP and school meal programs would have significant impacts on the nutritional health and academic performance of children from low-income families. The long-term effects of these changes on their future prospects could be severe. We need to fight back and protect SNAP!