Kinkead: $230 billion SNAP cut threatens children, seniors in PA
Rep. Emily Kinkead February 26, 2025 | 3:44 PM
HARRISBURG, Feb. 26 – In response to the budget resolution passed by the U.S. House Tuesday, state Rep. Emily Kinkead released the following statement:
“I am absolutely heartbroken by the cruelty of the budget that passed the U.S. House last night,” Kinkead said. “As House Chair of the Pennsylvania Legislative Hunger Caucus, I have met with foodbank stakeholders across the state and know firsthand that food insecurity is worse now than ever before - even than during the pandemic.
“The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the single most effective program when it comes to combatting hunger in this, the wealthiest nation on Earth. Fully 43% of SNAP recipients are children and 86% of recipient households include a child, elderly person, or person with a disability. Here in Pennsylvania, there are over two million SNAP participants that rely on the program for food. About 15% of our state’s total population—some of our most vulnerable residents—would be directly harmed by the proposed SNAP cuts.
“And beyond the human impact, SNAP is a critical economic tool that supports local food stores, food and other wholesalers, trucking and rail freight industries, and agriculture. In fact, for every dollar spent on SNAP, $1.54 is returned to the national economy, not to mention supporting tens of thousands of jobs. After making promises about bringing down costs, stripping $230 billion from SNAP isn't just a betrayal of the over 42 million Americans struggling to put food on the table, it hurts our businesses and workers. It's short-sighted and the cruelty of the cuts is only matched by the stupidity of the cuts.”