House GOP proposes nearly $300 billion cut to SNAP over the next decade
INDIANAPOLIS — As the GOP spending bill makes its way to the House Rules Committee, food insecurity experts have expressed concerns that a proposed $290 billion cut to SNAP over the next decade is still up for debate, potentially affecting the more than 600,000 Hoosiers who rely on the program.
'All 610,000 could be impacted by the proposed cuts,' Mark Lynch with the Indy Hunger Network said.
According to Lynch, the federal government provides more than 80% of food assistance dollars: the largest percentage within the nation's food insecurity safety net.
'Every community center like we're in today, every church, synagogue, and mosque; everyone who has tried to help: that's less than 20% of the total money and goods that are in the food insecurity system,' Lynch said.
'It's a nearly 30% cut to the program over the next decade,' Rachel West with The Century Foundation said.
If that cut comes to fruition, West said the average Hoosier on SNAP could lose between $110-$120 in monthly benefits, assuming they're not kicked off the program altogether.
'It's nearly a full week of benefits,' West said. 'Indiana families are in a worse position than many American families if these benefits go cuts go into effect.'
According to West, the GOP spending bill would pass SNAP costs onto states — something never before seen in the program's 50-year history.
'If the House cuts that they're proposing come to fruition, it would be a $356 million additional cost to the state of Indiana,' Lynch said.
This comes as the state decided not to opt into the popular Sun Bucks program — a summer EBT program that would have cost the state $2.8 million to administer this year.
'The state didn't feel comfortable with $2.8 million? I don't know how they would feel anywhere close to comfortable with $356 million,' Lynch said.
'A state that just passed a budget that exceeded $46 billion is not a poor state,' State Sen. Fady Qaddoura (D-Indianapolis) said.
Sen. Qaddoura submitted a request to legislative leaders for a review of Indiana's food insecurity safety net, and what options the state has should these cuts take place.
'Especially as we are hearing discussions within the community of economists across the United States that we are on the verge of a recession, and if that is the case, then we need to act quickly to be sure that no one is left behind,' Sen. Qaddoura said.
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