Washington, D.C. - Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI)
issued the following statement in response to benefit cuts in the Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The cuts, which affect more than 47
million Americans, go into effect today due to the expiration of a temporary benefit
increase under the 2009 Recovery Act. A family of three will receive $29 less
per month, while a family of four will receive $26 less.
“Why is it that every time we discuss cutting costs in
government, it is our most vulnerable citizens who pay the price?” asked
Langevin, who is co-sponsoring a bill to extend the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act’s 13.6 percent temporary increase for one additional year.
“SNAP amounts to only 2 percent of the federal budget, and yet it continues to
be targeted for additional cuts, buts that will be devastating to millions of
families. I was proud to join my colleagues who participated in the SNAP
Challenge, helping us to understand what it is like to live on $4.50 per day. I
assure you, it isn’t easy. And now, by allowing these benefits to expire, we
are asking individuals to sacrifice more, living on an average of just $4.20
per day.
“Eighty percent of the households receiving SNAP benefits
have monthly income below the poverty line, and these reductions will serve to
push them further into poverty. We are forcing parents to go hungry so that
their children have enough to eat. We are forcing families to choose between
paying the rent and buying groceries. Those are choices that no American should
have to make.”