Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson Releases Statement on Cuts to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Benefits

Dallas, TX – (Friday, November 1, 2013) –  Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson released the following statement in response to the substantial reduction in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits that occurs today. 

“Families throughout Texas are going through tough times. This cut in benefits hurts so many working families, mothers, and worst of all children,” said Congresswoman Johnson.  “It is unconscionable to think that while our country is still recovering from the great recession of 2008, we would leave so many families without the necessary nutrition they need to keep surviving.  This is an issue that affects Americans of all races in all states.  I will continue to work hard to get the ‘Extend Not Cut SNAP Benefits Act’ passed.”

Today the temporary benefit boost provided for in the 2009 American Reinvestment and Recovery Act for households across the country that are participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) ends. Working families that rely on SNAP will see their monthly benefits sharply reduced. The program is being cut by $4.8 billion in fiscal year 2014 and a total of $10.5 billion through fiscal year 2016.  This cut represents a serious blow to struggling families and will leave the average person on SNAP to receive less than $1.40 per meal.

According to a report by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP), in total, the cut will result in a reduction in benefits of $29 per month, or a loss of 16 meals a month, for a family of three. This reduction will push millions of SNAP participants over the cliff, including 22 million children, 9 million people who are elderly or have a serious disability, and 900,000 veterans nationwide.

Congresswoman Johnson is a cosponsor of H.R.3108, the “Extend Not Cut SNAP Benefits Act,” a one-year extension through FY 2014 of the 2009 Recovery Act boost to SNAP benefits. This week, Congresswoman Johnson also signed onto a letter to Speaker Boehner signed by the entire Democratic Caucus making clear that the final Farm Bill must be crafted in such a way as to ensure that hunger does not increase. 

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U.S. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson is the ranking member of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and the highest-ranking Texan on the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure. She represents the 30th Congressional District of Texas, which includes Downtown Dallas, Fair Park, Kessler Park, Old East Dallas, Pleasant Grove, South Dallas & South Oak Cliff; all of Cedar Hill, DeSoto, Duncanville, Hutchins, Lancaster & Wilmer and parts of Ferris, Glenn Heights, South Grand Prairie, Oak Lawn, Ovilla, Uptown/Victory Park and West Dallas.