Rep. Fudge Opposes SNAP Cuts During Farm Bill Hearing

Representative Marcia L. Fudge: Thank you Mr. Chairman.

If this Farm Bill passes out of this Committee in its current form, hunger and poverty will increase nationwide. Children will suffer, seniors will suffer. The poorest among us will suffer.

How can we justify $16.5 billion in cuts to the food stamp program when 75% of all SNAP recipients are families with young children? How can we justify these cuts when 25% are senior citizens or people with disabilities?

I am ashamed that this Committee has decided to target over 46 million people in America who depend on this essential lifeline.

I'd like to extend an invitation to everyone on this Committee who supports these cuts. Come to my district and your eyes will be opened. You'll see single mothers who work everyday, but depend on this program to feed their children. You'll see seniors who line up at the food bank for fresh produce when their SNAP benefits begin to run low. You will see people who look like me and YOU.
According to 2011 USDA data, on average, every Member of Congress in this room represents districts with more than 25,600 households that rely on food stamps. And some of the districts represented in this room, have as many as 44,000 households that depend on food stamps.

Think about that. Please stop and think about the vote you will take today. Join me and my colleagues, Representatives McGovern, Baca, Pingree, Welch, and Sewell. Support this amendment. Oppose the cuts to SNAP.

I yield back.

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