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Schumer opposes changes to SNAP Program

U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer has announced opposition to the administration’s proposed changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Schumer said changes included in the administration’s proposed FY19 Budget would cut the program by 30 percent a year, totaling $1.4 billion in cuts per year and over $14 billion over 10 years in New York State alone. Schumer said this proposal would be disastrous for New Yorkers who rely on SNAP benefits to help feed their families, and promised to fight back against these harmful cuts.

According to Schumer, Cattaraugus County could lose approximately $4,768,495 per year, Chautauqua County could lose approximately $10,902,280 per year; and Erie County could lose approximately $70,104,827 per year.

“Let me be clear, no child should ever go to bed hungry, which is why I am deeply concerned about the administration’s proposed changes to SNAP, our main program to stave off hunger. This harmful proposal could mean that millions of families and seniors across New York and nationwide will lose access to desperately needed food assistance. It’s deplorable that the administration would make cuts to our main hunger-prevention program while at the same time cutting essential programs that provide assistance to people who need it the most,” said Senator Schumer. “I urge the administration to immediately reverse course, and I vow to fight to build bi-partisan support to reverse these cruel and counterproductive cuts to this vital anti-hunger program.”

Schumer said SNAP is a lifeline for many New Yorkers statewide, including families with young children and seniors who rely on the critical funding to purchase groceries. According to New York State, almost 3 million New Yorkers in more than 1.5 million households participated in the SNAP program in December of 2017 and could be negatively impacted if the administration’s proposal were to become a reality.

Schumer added, “The administration is simultaneously showering trillions in tax cuts to billionaires while cutting vital food support to hungry families and seniors.”

The administration must end these cruel cuts to programs that help New Yorkers feed their families. This is as backwards as it gets.”

Schumer has long opposed cuts to SNAP and has worked tirelessly to prevent cuts to the program. Schumer argued hundreds of thousands of Americans rely on SNAP to feed their families and that the administration’s proposed cuts to the program are ill-advised and cruel. Schumer is committed to fighting against the administration’s proposed cuts in the future.

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