By Blake Jackson
Pennsylvania officials are raising alarms over proposed federal changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which could strip food assistance from at least 140,000 residents and cost the state more than $1 billion annually.
At a recent event, Department of Human Services Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh and Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding joined Feeding Pennsylvania and the Central PA Food Bank to highlight the risks posed by these federal proposals.
SNAP currently supports nearly two million Pennsylvanians. Participation is especially high in rural communities, and over half of beneficiaries are children or older adults. The program also aids working families, people with disabilities, and others struggling with food insecurity.
“SNAP helps people meet one of our most essential needs allowing them to participate fully in work and school and live healthier. Should these proposals to change SNAP become law, vulnerable children, people with disabilities, older Pennsylvanians, and many others would see their access to food at risk and will further destabilize our agricultural economy and workforce during a tumultuous time,” said Secretary Arkoosh.
“Congress’ proposed changes would fundamentally destabilize this program that helps both our communities and our economy."
The USDA Economic Research Service reports that every $1 billion in SNAP benefits generates $1.54 billion in GDP. Each month, over $365 million in SNAP funds flow into Pennsylvania, benefiting grocery stores, farmers, and food producers.
“Farmers receive nearly a quarter of every dollar Pennsylvania families spend on groceries, whether those dollars are from SNAP or any other source,” Secretary Redding said.
“Most of Pennsylvania’s 48,800 farms are family-run. Losing SNAP dollars would hit Pennsylvania’s farm families as well as the families of the 12,000 people working in the grocery industry whose jobs are directly supported by monthly SNAP spending.”
“SNAP is an incredibly effective program. For every one meal the charitable food network provides, SNAP provides nine," said Shila Ulrich, Central Pennsylvania Food Bank president.
"We are in the midst of a hunger crisis and a major change to SNAP will only lead to higher rates of food insecurity. Our network will not be able to adequately serve Pennsylvanians experiencing hunger with a loss like this."
The proposed changes would impose stricter work reporting rules and shift up to 25% of SNAP’s cost to states. Pennsylvania officials say the state cannot absorb the additional $1 billion burden. Currently, no changes have been finalized.
Photo Credit: snap
Categories: Pennsylvania, Government & Policy