Statement attributed to Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, Feeding America chief executive officer
People facing hunger need Congress to provide solutions that support families and invest in healthy, prosperous communities. However, the budget reconciliation bill currently under consideration in the House would do the opposite by taking away access to food and health care from millions of children, older adults, veterans, and individuals with disabilities.
This legislation proposes significant reductions to essential programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid, at a time when the cost of food and health care remains prohibitively high for tens of millions of people in the United States.
According to preliminary estimates, the proposed reductions to SNAP could eliminate the equivalent of nearly 6 to 9 billion meals annually. For context, the entire Feeding America network, which includes more than 200 food banks and 60,000 faith-based and charitable partners, distributed 6 billion meals last year. Furthermore, proposed cuts to Medicaid could result in the loss of health care coverage for at least 8 million individuals, leaving an additional 800,000 people without sufficient resources to access the nutritious food they need to thrive.
We respectfully urge members of Congress to oppose harmful cuts to these vital programs and, instead, advocate for solutions that support individuals and families in their states and districts.
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About Feeding America
Feeding America is committed to an America where no one is hungry. We support tens of millions of people who experience food insecurity to get the food and resources they say they need to thrive as part of a nationwide network of food banks, statewide food bank associations, food pantries and meal programs. We also invest in innovative solutions to increase equitable access to nutritious food, advocate for legislation that improves food security and work to address factors that impact food security, such as health, cost of living and employment. We partner with people experiencing food insecurity, policymakers, organizations, and supporters, united with them in a movement to end hunger. Visit FeedingAmerica.org to learn more.