The U.S. House Agriculture Committee’s proposed spending cuts to SNAP and Medicaid would increase food insecurity, reduce access to health insurance, and lead to poorer outcomes.
These cuts will present states, including Texas, with a financial burden and choices between funding education, other important government responsibilities, and the increased cost of nutrition and health services. They will also result in more costs for emergency rooms because without Medicaid, individuals cannot afford the cost of preventative care.
- The plan would require Texas to pay anywhere from 5% to 25% of the food benefits and increase the state’s administrative costs from 50% to 75% or make cuts to the program to account for that amount.
- Using data from recent years, this would mean the Texas Legislature would have to front $1.167 billion a year or nearly $2.334 billion per biennium to keep SNAP whole.
- Cuts would also eliminate SNAP Education, which is an evidence-based program that helps families eat more nutritiously.
- Another major change is the elimination of work exemptions for parents with children under age 7 who may not be in school or childcare, as well as for older adults between ages 55 and 64.
“Cuts to SNAP will not just hurt those in deep need, they will also impact hard-working, middle-class families who are already stretched thin trying to make ends meet,” said Brian Greene, President and CEO of Houston Food Bank. “For decades now, SNAP has been the most powerful tool America has to support families facing hunger while also assisting our farmers. SNAP has a greater return on investment than any other – these dollars not only supplement food budgets, but they are also spent and reinvested back into local economies, provide exponentially more meals than a food bank alone, and ensure consistent nutrition to beneficiaries. Food banks are united in our plea to protect SNAP.”
Houston Food Bank is speaking out against the Medicaid and SNAP cuts because they will increase food insecurity and poor health outcomes as well as be harmful to our economy. There already are strict regulations about short-term eligibility for SNAP, and research indicates that these changes could make it more challenging for individuals to maintain employment and financial stability for their families.
Changes will also cause challenges for food banks, who are serving a larger population while experiencing significant cuts and reduced resources. These organizations are already feeling the strain of increased demand and tightening budgets. Proposed cuts will only make it harder for us to stretch limited resources and continue supporting our neighbors in need.
But it’s not just the families relying on food assistance who will feel the impact; small local farmers will, too. For every $1 cut from SNAP, farmers will see an estimated 15¢ reduction in revenue. These can and will hurt the people who grow and produce our food and those who depend on it.
Some of the most concerning Medicaid proposals that Houston Food Bank is advocating against:
- New enrollees aged 19-64 without dependents are required to work, volunteer, or attend school for 80 hours a month (with some exceptions including those who are pregnant or persons with disabilities). There are currently no work requirements to qualify for this health insurance and research shows work requirements lead to coverage loss and worse health outcomes rather than increased employment. .
- Implementing copays (capped at $35 or no more than 5% of income) for some individuals earning above 100% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), which is $16,000 for an individual.
We’re doing everything we can to support our neighbors in our 18-county region, but we can’t do it alone. Please help us support neighbors by contacting your elected officials and let them know: Medicaid and SNAP matter.
Learn more about the impact of proposed cuts to SNAP and Medicaid:
Funding cuts threaten to deepen hunger crisis as rising costs send more families to food banks