This week the House Committee on Agriculture advanced its budget bill that includes major changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) − and the stakes are clear and very high. The Committee identified nearly $300 billion in cost reductions to the federal government, a move that would require significant reductions in the SNAP program to meet that target, severely weakening the country’s most effective tool to combat hunger. Unless states have the funds necessary to share in the cost of SNAP, Americans will need to contend with benefit reductions from the current $6 daily average, new eligibility restrictions, or both. Meanwhile, there is a way to keep SNAP strong without making such deep cuts.
SNAP, formerly known as “Food Stamps,” supports more than 42 million Americans each month. These are not nameless, faceless recipients. They are our neighbors, classmates, coworkers and family members, as well as many of our service men and women and their families. The vast majority are children, seniors, people with disabilities and working families who simply don’t earn enough to afford the groceries they need.
SNAP’s impact is profound and well-documented. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the program reduces food insecurity by up to 30%, a critical statistic at a time when elevated food costs continue to squeeze household budgets nationwide. While modest—on average about $6 per person per day—SNAP can be the difference between a child going to bed hungry or nourished, or between a senior skipping meals or staying healthy.
But SNAP is not just about alleviating hunger in the short term − it is a long-term investment in public health and economic stability. Research shows that participants in SNAP incur about $1,400 less in medical costs annually than non-participants. Better food security leads to better health outcomes, which in turn reduces the strain on our health care system. That’s a win for individuals and taxpayers alike.
The economic ripple effects of SNAP are significant. Each dollar in SNAP benefits generates about $1.50 in expanded local economic activity. These benefits are spent quickly − often within days − at local grocery stores, supporting jobs and small businesses in communities throughout every state.
Moreover, SNAP supports those who need it most. Nearly 75% of SNAP households have income at or below the federal poverty level, and more than a third live in deep poverty − those with incomes below 50% of this threshold. SNAP is not a bloated, wasteful program; it is a targeted lifeline for reducing hardship among struggling Americans.
Despite these strengths, some lawmakers argue that cuts are necessary in the name of fiscal discipline. Getting our fiscal house in order is important and a goal that we support – but we can and should accomplish that by making SNAP more efficient, not by reducing the already modest benefits that our fellow Americans rely on to feed themselves and their families.
Public support for SNAP is strong and bipartisan. According to a national survey commissioned by the organization I lead, FMI – The Food Industry Association (FMI), 70% of voters support the program, and 59% oppose efforts to reduce SNAP benefits.
Voters across the political spectrum understand what’s at stake, with most indicating they are likely to support lawmakers who vote to support SNAP benefits. These voters understand SNAP is not a handout; rather, it is a life preserver that helps people stay afloat during periods of job loss, illness, natural disaster or crisis.
Improving SNAP’s efficiency and integrity is a shared goal. But we must not confuse reform with rollback. Policymakers should focus on strengthening the program − simplifying access, promoting employment and training opportunities and prosecuting criminals who try to steal SNAP benefits from those who need them most.
Congress can take commonsense steps to improve SNAP and reduce its cost without cutting benefits. Government agencies can be more frugal with taxpayer dollars by reducing state level operational mistakes that result in overpayment to SNAP recipients. At the same time, organized crime rings are stealing benefits from Americans by skimming EBT cards. Addressing these problems involves a variety of stakeholders and law enforcement, but it can strengthen the program while preserving its purpose.
As Congress considers government funding, the next Farm Bill and the future of feeding assistance, the path forward should be clear. SNAP works. It reduces hunger, improves health, stimulates local economies and helps millions of Americans weather hard times.
