With federal cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program expected to impact people across the region, U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer is pushing to delay those funding cuts by two years.
Speaking in Wyoming County Thursday, Schumer said those cuts will shift more than $5.6 million in new costs to local counties.
“198,000 New York families, kids, and seniors across Western New York depend on SNAP to put food on the table. But last year, Republicans passed the largest cut to SNAP in history, forcing Western New York counties and their taxpayers to pick up the tab,” Schumer said in a statement. “Now, Republicans want to move forward with a Farm Bill that would do nothing for hungry families or the counties. The Republicans’ plan will immediately blow a $211,000 bill in the Wyoming County budget, and counties across the country will be forced to choose between raising local taxes and cutting food assistance for hungry kids, seniors, veterans, and families. It’s just plain cruel.”
“I urge Republicans, especially New York House Republicans, to come back to the table and write a Farm Bill that actually meets the moment: supporting farmers, strengthening rural America, protecting families, and ensuring Americans have enough to eat by reversing SNAP cuts.”
The move will greatly impact food pantries across New York, including at the United Church of Warsaw.
“This pantry relies on state and federal grants. So when those funds are cut, our food allocation funds are cut as well,” said Ellen Chandler, volunteer, Food Pantry at the United Church of Warsaw.