Even More Cuts to Food Stamps Mean Millions of Texans will go Hungry

Today, billions of dollars of cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will go into effect. They are the result of the expiration of a temporary increase in funding for SNAP that went into effect as part of the stimulus package in 2009. The expanded SNAP budget was set to automatically expire on November 1. Thanks to Congressional inaction, the cuts went into effect and SNAP will lose $5 billion over the next year.

However, a couple Texas Congressmen spoke up against the SNAP budget cuts that will leave families hungry. Congressmen Marc Veasey (D-Fort Worth) and Gene Green (D-Houston) co-sponsored HR 3353, which would reinstate the additional funding SNAP benefits.

Rep. Veasey released this statement, explaining his support of the bill:

"As Members of Congress, we have the responsibility and obligation to pass reforms to protect the food security of every American. This is why I signed on to H.R. 3353, which will offer a one year extension of the 13% increase of SNAP benefits through FY 2014. It is time for House Republicans to start helping - not hurting - millions of Americans who are striving to get back on their feet by joining to pass this bill and to pass a responsible budget ending unnecessary cuts to lifeline programs for millions of Americans."