Latest news with #SupplementalNutritionAssistance
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Potential changes to SNAP worry Kalamazoo food bank
KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) – A major legislative package outlining tax cuts and spending is making its way through Congress this week. H.R. 1, or the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act, also seeks to reform and cut back on several federal programs. Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes, along with other food banks across the country, are closely watching what that could mean for SNAP benefits or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance. Associate Director Greta Faworski said Loaves and Fishes has seen a sharp increase in people asking for help since 2023, with inflation being a main driver. 'We are really currently experiencing the highest demand for service we have in our history of our organization, which is a little bit concerning in the sense that if there are additional increases, we're going to have to really make sure we can stretch resources to help everyone,' Faworski said. It's a concerning trend, but Faworski said her team is determined to meet the need as best as they can. Some of the people getting help make just enough not to qualify for federal assistance, but can't keep up with basic costs. Others are on SNAP. While the program helps with food costs at stores, it does not cover all a household could need. That's why Faworski said she's concerned about hearing what's going on in Washington. 'It's always on the chopping block and we're watching that,' she said. The program, among other federal programs, is in line for deep cuts and reform as part of the legislative package. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act is expected to slash $267 billion in federal spending for SNAP over nearly a decade. Part of it comes from states having to cover 75% of administrative costs instead of 50%. The legislation also calls on states to match 5% of SNAP allotments. That rate would go up depending on the error rate of each state. It would also change general work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents. That requirement would apply to people who are not over 65 years old, instead of 55 years old. The SNAP Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention Grant Program would also be cut. The program supports SNAP-Ed, an educational arm aimed at promoting healthy eating habits through different state programs. With Medicaid also facing cuts in federal subsidies, Faworski said she's concerned changes at the federal level will trickle down to people's budgets. 'People are living very, very thinly,' Faworski said. 'And if they have already stretched budgets, something that changes even a very small amount can really throw them into a financial crisis and have put them into a position of having to make choices.' Some Congressional Republicans say the changes are needed to rein in a program that has been running unchecked. 'The provisions included in the One Big, Beautiful Bill will ensure that SNAP works the way Congress intended by reinforcing work requirements, rooting out waste, and instituting long-overdue accountability incentives to end executive and state overreach,' Republican Congressman Tim Walberg said in a statement to News 8. Walberg said there's strong support even among Democrats for work requirements. But states have overused waivers. 'This commonsense reform will restore integrity to the program by closing loopholes and incentivizing states to enhance efficiencies and improve outcomes for recipients. These efforts will ultimately strengthen SNAP for those this program was intended to serve,' Walberg said. If benefits are cut, Faworski said she anticipates seeing a larger number of people using the food bank. Despite losing a major source of support due to cuts at the USDA recently, she said her team will do their best to meet whatever demand comes through the door. H.R. 1 has moved on to the U.S. Senate. If passed, it will move on to the White House to be signed into law by President Donald Trump. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Reconciliation bill targets SNAP, extends Trump tax cuts
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — Negotiations continue on Capitol Hill for the reconciliation process, with key committees advancing their portions of the bill on Wednesday. No Democratic amendments made it into the so-called 'Big Beautiful Bill', which aims to cut $1.5 trillion from federal programs and services to pay for $4.5 trillion in proposed tax cuts. 'The poor decisions that are being made here in Congress, are going to have significant effects. People are looking for certainty right now and all they're getting is just stupid politics from Washington. We need to get the job done for the people back home,' said U.S. Congressman Eric Sorensen (D-Ill.) Sorensen sits on the House Agriculture Committee, which is tasked with finding $230 billion in cuts. But the Republican-led committee cut even more than that. Wednesday's bill contains $300 billion in cuts from Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP), commonly referred to as food stamps. The bill increases the age requirement for SNAP from 54 to 64 for able-bodied adults with children. It also shifts the direct cost of food benefits from the federal government to the states. 'We need to make sure that we're doing right by our American farmers, by those that are getting up early in the day, working late at night, working to feed their families. Instead, what are we doing? We're looking at taking away the ability for people to put food on the table, literally, that's what we just did in the Agriculture Committee,' said Sorensen, who voted against the bill. Nearly two million Illinoisans, or one in seven people, depend on SNAP benefits to meet their nutritional needs, according to the Illinois Department of Health and Human Services. Sorensen lashed at his Republican colleagues, accusing them of prioritizing billionaires over the middle class. 'The only reason that they're doing what they're doing today is to give Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, and all of the rich fat cats, all of their tax breaks and put it onto the backs of working people. And so, let's call it out for what it is. It's a changing of how our government is working. It should be for the people by the people, but that's not what's going on today,' he said. U.S. Congressman Darin LaHood (R-Ill.) sits on the House Ways and Means Committee. The committee's bill makes Trump's 2017 tax cuts permanent and increases the child tax credit. Some of LaHood's provisions made it in as well. The 'Health Saving for Families Act' makes health savings accounts (HSA) more accessible. 'The House Ways and Means Committee voted to provide hardworking Americans, seniors, small businesses, and farmers with much-needed and immediate tax relief,' said LaHood. 'It is critical that Congress pass the One, Big, Beautiful Bill as soon as possible to give rocket fuel to the United States' economy.' The committee bills now head to the House Budget Committee to combine into the legislative package. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
American Heart Association comes out in favor of Arkansas Gov. Sanders' plan to reduce sugar consumption
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The American Heart Association (AHA) has come out in support of Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders' plan to cut down on sugary drink consumption. The AHA said it had sent comments in support of the governor's request to the USDA to prohibit sugary drink purchases with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP) benefits in Arkansas. Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announces plan to remove sugary foods from SNAP The statement issued Wednesday continued that the policy and policies like it are met with 'fierce opposition' from the soda industry. For decades, the soda industry has opposed efforts by the Association and others to pass meaningful public policies to address the overconsumption of sugary drinks,' the statement reads. 'This outrageous behavior continues with the industry's opposition to removing sugary drinks from SNAP, even though sugary drinks are among the most purchased items by SNAP participants.' Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders gives state-of-the-state address, introduces new policy initiatives AHA CEO Nancy Brown said sugary drink consumption leads to increased health risks. 'Arkansas and other states across the country are standing up to the soda industry and taking bold moves to improve the health of their citizens,' Brown said. 'The facts are clear – sugary drinks are the largest source of added sugars in the U.S. diet, and sugary drink consumption can lead to cardiovascular disease.' SNAP Changes: What foods could be excluded in Arkansas? In addition to advocating for reducing sugary drink consumption in SNAP, the AHA has worked with public health partners across the country to increase sugary beverage taxes in several large cities. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Yahoo
Grand Jury Indictments
Scioto County Prosecutor Shane A. Tieman has announced the Scioto County Grand Jury met Friday, April 4, and returned 23 public indictments. The defendants indicted are charged as follows: Keenan Parks, 36, of Columbus, Ohio, was indicted on: * Failure to Appear as Required by Recognizance Eric Peyton, 46, of Lucasville, Ohio, was indicted on: * Possession of a Deadly Weapon While Under Detention * Felonious Assault (2 Counts) Devonte Walton, 35, of Lucasville, Ohio, was indicted on: * Felonious Assault * Possession of a Deadly Weapon While Under Detention Tiffany Charles, 40, of Portsmouth, Ohio, was indicted on: * Aggravated Possession of Drugs * Illegal Use or Possession of Drug Paraphernalia Marie Miller, 43, of Portsmouth, Ohio, was indicted on: * Telecommunications Fraud * Misuse of Credit Cards * Grand Theft * Theft Kaleb Dixon, 26, of Wheelersburg, Ohio, was indicted on: * Aggravated Burglary * Felonious Assault (2 Counts) Jessica Riggs, 26, of West Portsmouth, Ohio, was indicted on: * Illegal Use or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Benefits or Wic Program Benefits Brian Taylor, 52, of Rarden, Ohio, was indicted on: * Breaking and Entering Rava Hudson, 30, of McDermott, Ohio, was indicted on: * Illegal Use or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Benefits or Wic Program Benefits Zachary Hudson, 29, of McDermott, Ohio, was indicted on: * Illegal Use or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Benefits or Wic Program Benefits Jeanie York, 22, of Portsmouth, Ohio, was indicted on: * Illegal Use or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Benefits or Wic Program Benefits Cameron Dixon, 21, of Portsmouth, Ohio, was indicted on: * Illegal Use or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Benefits or Wic Program Benefits Mason Armstrong, 19, of Knoxville, TN, was indicted on: * Receiving Stolen Property James Young, 53, of New Boston, Ohio, was indicted on: * Grand Theft * Receiving Stolen Property (2 Counts) * Grand Theft of a Motor Vehicle Anna Caudill, 33, of Portsmouth, Ohio, was indicted on: * Theft * Theft from a Person in a Protected Class * Telecommunications Fraud (2 Counts) Richard Colley, 36, of Stout, Ohio, was indicted on: * Theft from a Person in a Protected Class * Telecommunications Fraud (2 Counts) Brian Bowen, 56, of Wheelersburg, Ohio, was indicted on: * Attempted Burglary Mark Cole, 44, of Manchester, Ohio, was indicted on: * Attempted Burglary Bradley Sudbrook, 29, of Portsmouth, Ohio, was indicted on: * Strangulation * Domestic Violence (2 Counts) * Assault * Aggravated Menacing Kevin Rodgers, 31, of Hernando, MS, was indicted on: * Receiving Stolen Property Justin Whisman, 30, of Portsmouth, Ohio, was indicted on: * Burglary * Disrupting Public Services * Domestic Violence * Assault Jodi Howard, 51, of West Portsmouth, Ohio, was indicted on: * Theft from a Person in a Protected Class (2 Counts) * Telecommunications Fraud (2 Counts) Ronald Howard, 53, of West Portsmouth, Ohio, was indicted on: * Theft from a Person in a Protected Class (2 Counts) * Telecommunications Fraud (2 Counts)
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Maine lawmakers advance effort to seek money for more EV subsidies
Mar. 20—With its money for electric vehicle rebates depleted, Maine's quasi-state agency that promotes energy efficiency has won the first round of approval in the Legislature to seek funding from New England's grid operator. The Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee on Wednesday voted 7-5 along party lines to approve a measure authorizing Efficiency Maine Trust to pursue more than $2 million from an electricity market run by New England's grid operator, ISO-New England, to help subsidize EV purchases by Maine car buyers. Efficiency Maine Trust taps the ISO's market and other funding sources for rebates to buyers of electric heat pumps. If approved by the Legislature, the bill will extend that to EVs. The committee's five Republicans opposed the bill while seven Democrats voted to send it to the Legislature. "I do not believe that the demand for EVs justifies continued subsidized investments into the technology," Rep. Mathew McIntyre, R-Lowell said. "I do not see this as a worthwhile or practical investment. I think this dog don't hunt." Republicans have criticized state efforts to broaden EV use in Maine, saying they are too costly for many Mainers and that the state has no business remaking private transportation. Democrats and their environmental allies say EVs are a critical part of Maine's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, particularly in the transportation sector, which accounts for nearly half of carbon emissions from fossil fuel combustion, according to the state's climate plan. Republicans say their constituents can't afford EVs. Rep. Steven Foster, R-Dexter, said the bill would provide funding for EVs "that folks in my district and the northern part of the state won't benefit from." "Have you been to an auto dealer lately and seen the sticker prices on these vehicles?" McIntyre asked. Michael Stoddard, executive director of Efficiency Maine Trust, said much of an EV's cost is its battery, and that battery prices over the last decade are "dropping like a stone." In the biggest annual drop since 2017, lithium-ion battery pack prices declined 20% from 2023 to 2024, to a record low of $115 per kilowatt-hour, according to an analysis by researcher BloombergNEF in December. Factors include cell manufacturing overcapacity, broader production, low prices for metals and components, adoption of lower-cost lithium-iron-phosphate batteries and a slowdown in electric vehicle sales growth. BloombergNEF said the data represent a global average and prices vary by country. Stoddard told lawmakers that Efficiency Maine Trust will promote EVs to low- and moderate-income households and businesses. EV rebates are still available for low-income applicants with money from a settlement related to the New England Clean Energy Connect transmission line. Low-income Mainers — those who receive heating assistance; Supplemental Nutrition Assistance, or food stamps; Temporary Assistance for Needy Families; or MaineCare medical assistance — are eligible for EV incentives of between $2,500 and $7,500, depending on whether they're buying a battery EV, a plug-in hybrid EV or a used vehicle. It's not clear if the rebates will remain the same or change if the legislation ultimately becomes law and Efficiency Maine Trust gets a new source of revenue. A spokesperson for the agency said in an email Thursday that the legislation would give it the flexibility to set rebates "at levels that will make EVs more accessible to more businesses and low- and moderate-income consumers." Funding for EV rebates has been budgeted at $2 million and ISO-New England would provide another $2 million or more in a 50-50 split between EV and electric heat pump funding of $4 million to $5 million a year. Efficiency Maine Trust had spent about $4.4 million before the program was suspended last November when funding was exhausted, Stoddard said. Since the start of the EV rebate program in 2019, funding has also come from settlements in a lawsuit with Volkswagen and a one-time appropriation from the state's general fund. Over the course of the program, Efficiency Maine says it has provided rebates for more than 6,000 vehicles. Stoddard acknowledged that Maine has an uphill climb in broadening EV use. The state's cold climate can "pose a challenge" to EV battery range and electric chargers are separated by greater distances than in other, more urban states, he said. "We have a heavier lift here to make these vehicles work well for us," he said. "It's not been growing as fast in Maine as in other parts of the country. But it has been steadily growing." Nearly 17,500 battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles are on the road in Maine, according to an analysis by Atlas Public Policy. That's about 12% of the state's goal of 150,000 by 2030. It's up from about 2,000 five years ago, Stoddard said. "It is steadily growing, albeit slowly," he said. McIntyre said he based his opposition to the legislation in part because he believes the taxpayers he represents would pay "into a system that they will not avail themselves of and that they don't agree is beneficial in the environment of Maine." Stoddard said Efficiency Maine Trust does not use a "penny of taxpayer dollars" for the EV rebate program. The agency taps ISO-New England's forward capacity market, an annual auction to secure power commitments from generators and others three years in advance. Efficiency Maine Trust may eventually quit "because it's increasingly complicated to participate," he said. "For next three years, we're in and have a resource we take the trouble to report, and it's worth something," he said. Copy the Story Link
