Congress is currently working on a budget plan that would lead to deep cuts in critical programs, especially Medicaid and SNAP, that will hurt thousands of low-income children, working parents, people with disabilities, some veterans and older adults in our state. Not only will significantly cutting these programs push Ohio families deeper into poverty, but it will also hurt rural economies and agricultural producers who rely on a stable market. SNAP is particularly helpful to the economy, especially in times of financial downturn as the program expands and constricts depending on need. During a slowing economy, every $1 increase in SNAP benefits, the GDP increases by $1.54, according to the USDA.
In addition to the harm families would experience, Ohio’s hunger relief network of 12 foodbanks and 3,600 food pantries would be further strained by additional cuts to SNAP and Medicaid. Ohio’s foodbank network has already broken records quarter after quarter for the number of times food-insecure Ohioans are coming to the network for support. For two quarters in a row, Ohioans have been coming to their local food pantry more than 4 million times a quarter. Of the Ohioans coming to our lines, 57.8% reported that they were forced to choose between affording food or medicine/medical care. Ohioans are deeply struggling to continue to afford their basic needs, and further cuts to the programs that they rely on will only further harm them. Ohio families deserve better.
The House has already passed their budget plan, directing their committees to cut $2 trillion in total spending. The House and Senate have to work together to reach an agreement on the size and scope of the spending cuts they want to make. The Senate is set to make decisions on what changes to make to the House framework. Now is a critical time for your Senators to hear from you that Congress cannot cut food security programs and health care for Americans.
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