Thousands in Southwest Ohio could lose federal food assistance benefits, while tens of thousands more could see assistance reduced under congressional budget proposals, according to the nonpartisan Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP).Republicans in support of changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, say the changes will save money, root out waste and encourage personal responsibility. The program offers an average of $191 per month to 1 in 9 low-income, elderly and disabled Ohioans to purchase groceries each month, according to a CBPP analysis of USDA Food and Nutrition Service data. Sixty-two percent of Ohio households that participate in SNAP are in families with children. Congress is considering the deepest cuts ever to the food assistance program under a plan that would reduce funding by $300 billion over the next decade, according to the CBPP. The cuts will be used in part to pay for trillions in tax cuts that will benefit the wealthy. The proposal would also shift half of costs of administering the program to states like Ohio, which is already considering billions of dollars in budget cuts. “When a state doesn’t have sufficient revenues to backfill for these large federal cuts totaling billions nationally, it will have to shift funds from other vital public services, choose how to cut SNAP benefits and restrict the number of people getting help, or opt out of having a SNAP program entirely,” the CBPP wrote. Anti-hunger advocates including the Ohio Association of Foodbanks, the state’s largest charitable response to hunger representing a dozen food banks and 3,600 charities including food pantries — are urging lawmakers to reject cuts to the program 1.4 million Ohioans rely on. “SNAP is a lifeline for Ohioans when they experience crisis or when their wages, retirement incomes, or disability benefits don’t stretch far enough to afford healthy food, but the current proposal would shift nearly $500 million in SNAP costs onto the State of Ohio each year,” said Joree Novotny, the executive director of the Ohio Association of Foodbanks. In Ohio’s 1st Congressional District, which encompasses Cincinnati, an estimated 7,000 adults could lose food assistance entirely, data from the CBPP shows. An additional 17,000 adults could lose some benefits under the proposal. Statewide, a total of 144,000 adults could lose SNAP eligibility entirely while 316,000 adults could see a reduction in benefits. “To cut food and healthcare for tens of thousands of folks here to pay for tax cuts for the super wealthy is outrageous,” said U.S. Rep. Greg Landsman, a Democrat from Cincinnati. “Plus, they’re adding trillions to the deficit. It’s a terrible bill. Our children, families, seniors, and veterans will all suffer if they pass this bill. They should kill the bill. Not Americans.”Proposed cuts would slash SNAP funding by 30%, as lawmakers are considering expanding work requirements. Eighty-six percent of households that received SNAP in 2021 reported earnings, according to an analysis of most recent U.S. Census data, showing most SNAP participants who can work do.”The Committee’s reforms ensure SNAP works the way Congress intended it to, by reinforcing work, rooting out waste, and instituting long-overdue accountability incentives to control costs and end executive and state overreach,” according to a statement from lawmakers who say costs for the program have ballooned more than 80% in the last six years. Congress is considering requiring adults with children older than 7 years old to work and may increase the work requirement age to 65 years old from 54. Meanwhile, lawmakers in Ohio’s state legislature are considering changes to the program as well — including monthly income reporting requirements, requiring “able-bodied” adults without dependents to work, and excluding sugar-sweetened beverages from purchase through the program. Ohio lawmakers are also considering a $5 million upgrade for EBT with enhanced security chips to prevent fraud.
Thousands in Southwest Ohio could lose federal food assistance benefits, while tens of thousands more could see assistance reduced under congressional budget proposals, according to the nonpartisan Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP).
Republicans in support of changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, say the changes will save money, root out waste and encourage personal responsibility.
Advertisement
The program offers an average of $191 per month to 1 in 9 low-income, elderly and disabled Ohioans to purchase groceries each month, according to a CBPP analysis of USDA Food and Nutrition Service data. Sixty-two percent of Ohio households that participate in SNAP are in families with children.
Congress is considering the deepest cuts ever to the food assistance program under a plan that would reduce funding by $300 billion over the next decade, according to the CBPP. The cuts will be used in part to pay for trillions in tax cuts that will benefit the wealthy.
The proposal would also shift half of costs of administering the program to states like Ohio, which is already considering billions of dollars in budget cuts.
“When a state doesn’t have sufficient revenues to backfill for these large federal cuts totaling billions nationally, it will have to shift funds from other vital public services, choose how to cut SNAP benefits and restrict the number of people getting help, or opt out of having a SNAP program entirely,” the CBPP wrote.
Anti-hunger advocates including the Ohio Association of Foodbanks, the state’s largest charitable response to hunger representing a dozen food banks and 3,600 charities including food pantries — are urging lawmakers to reject cuts to the program 1.4 million Ohioans rely on.
“SNAP is a lifeline for Ohioans when they experience crisis or when their wages, retirement incomes, or disability benefits don’t stretch far enough to afford healthy food, but the current proposal would shift nearly $500 million in SNAP costs onto the State of Ohio each year,” said Joree Novotny, the executive director of the Ohio Association of Foodbanks.
In Ohio’s 1st Congressional District, which encompasses Cincinnati, an estimated 7,000 adults could lose food assistance entirely, data from the CBPP shows. An additional 17,000 adults could lose some benefits under the proposal. Statewide, a total of 144,000 adults could lose SNAP eligibility entirely while 316,000 adults could see a reduction in benefits.
“To cut food and healthcare for tens of thousands of folks here to pay for tax cuts for the super wealthy is outrageous,” said U.S. Rep. Greg Landsman, a Democrat from Cincinnati. “Plus, they’re adding trillions to the deficit. It’s a terrible bill. Our children, families, seniors, and veterans will all suffer if they pass this bill. They should kill the bill. Not Americans.”
Proposed cuts would slash SNAP funding by 30%, as lawmakers are considering expanding work requirements. Eighty-six percent of households that received SNAP in 2021 reported earnings, according to an analysis of most recent U.S. Census data, showing most SNAP participants who can work do.
“The Committee’s reforms ensure SNAP works the way Congress intended it to, by reinforcing work, rooting out waste, and instituting long-overdue accountability incentives to control costs and end executive and state overreach,” according to a statement from lawmakers who say costs for the program have ballooned more than 80% in the last six years.
Congress is considering requiring adults with children older than 7 years old to work and may increase the work requirement age to 65 years old from 54.
Meanwhile, lawmakers in Ohio’s state legislature are considering changes to the program as well — including monthly income reporting requirements, requiring “able-bodied” adults without dependents to work, and excluding sugar-sweetened beverages from purchase through the program. Ohio lawmakers are also considering a $5 million upgrade for EBT with enhanced security chips to prevent fraud.
发表回复