Liberal House Democrats slam ‘cruel and harmful’ cuts to school meals for poor children
Several Democrats took to the House floor on Wednesday to denounce large cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Food Stamp Program.
Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN) described the proposed cuts as “cruel and harmful” because it would “increase hunger in America.” Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) said the “morally wrong” $21 billion cut would hurt the U.S. economy along with low-income families.
The cuts to SNAP would remove about 2 million people from the program, according to theCenter on Budget and Policy Priorities. Additionally, roughly 210,000 children would lose access to free school meals.
“We cannot allow the budget to be balanced on the backs of the poor and most vulnerable in our country,” Rep. Marc Veasey (D-TX) said on the House floor.
“We should not be cutting the safety net for our most vulnerable while maintaining costly
