MAZON Statements

As the House Agriculture Committee prepares to debate legislation that would slash nearly $300 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) — the single most effective anti-hunger program in America — national advocates from MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger responded with both rage and resolve at this potentially devastating action.

MAZON President & CEO Abby J. Leibman stated:

“This bill is unacceptable, inhumane, and reckless. Republicans in the White House and Congress know that these proposed changes to SNAP — which go even further than the budget reconciliation directives — are outrageous and destructive. In fact, that’s the point. They know damn well that neither states nor individuals can meet the new requirements put on them by these changes, and that this is how they plan to force millions of people off of SNAP while giving tax breaks to their wealthiest donors.

“This is a betrayal of our highest American ideals, not to mention a slap in the face at our Jewish values. Republicans are punishing people living withfood insecurity in states and rural areas that are already understaffed and ill-equipped. The bill is a particularly egregious attack on single mothers in this country, who will have no way of managing the draconian expansion of SNAP’s already onerous work requirements. Kicking millions of people off SNAP will create more stress for food pantries and charitable organizations, who will be unable to support the stress and sudden increase in demand for help. And it will be uniquely difficult for our partners in Tribal communities — which can be among the nation’s most remote, rural communities — because people losing SNAP benefits will likely seek assistance from the already-stretched and under-resourced Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR). 

“SNAP is and has always been an anti-hunger program, not a workforce program. We’ve litigated time and time again that hunger is not a reasonable nor humane motivator for work. Hunger is a basic need for which our federal government has a responsibility to provide, instead of forcing the neediest among us to suffer. We know that government investments and structural reforms can reverse the course of hunger. But this bill will reverse any gains we’ve made since the pandemic, let alone since the New Deal.

“We cannot say this strongly enough or in plainer terms: members of the House Agriculture Committee MUST VOTE NO on this budget. If they advance this bill, they are turning their backs on their constituents and on all Americans. History and voters will judge them accordingly. 

“We will channel our rage into resolve, committing yet again to the Jewish values that command us to protect the dignity of every person, center justice, and care for those in need.”

Earlier this week, MAZON spearheaded, alongside the National Council of Jewish Women and the Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies, a letter signed by more than 150 Jewish organizations nationwide expressing strong opposition to these dangerous proposals in Congress. The letter, which demonstrates the breadth and depth of the national Jewish community’s commitment to fighting hunger, was sent to leaders of the House Committee on Agriculture; Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry; House Committee on Energy and Commerce; and Senate Committee on Finance.

Additionally, MAZON collected and shared with members of Congress quotes from a wide range of religious leaders and heads of faith-based organizations speaking out against cuts to food assistance programs. Leaders from Jewish, Christian, Catholic, Hindu, Quaker, and interfaith groups alike united in a call to protect SNAP and safeguard Americans’ basic right to food.

Specifically, this legislation would:

• Neutralize the Thrifty Food Plan (Sec. 10001), which would allow USDA to ignore data and science in determining the reality of what it costs to buy food, and permanently freeze the cost of the program outside of inflation adjustments.
• Expand work requirements for “Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents” (ABAWDs) (Sec. 10002), broadening the age range from 18-54 to 18-64 and redefining the definition of “dependent child” from under 18 years old to under 7, meaning that anyone aged 18-64 with a dependent under 7 would be kicked off of SNAP for 3 years if they can’t meet work requirements. It also carves out an exception for anyone responsible for a child age 7+ who is married and living with an individual who complies with SNAP’s work requirements — a clear attack on single mothers.
• Restrict waivers so more people will be subject to ABAWD work requirements (Sec. 10003), requiring county or county-equivalents to have unemployment rates of over 10% to be eligible for waivers, such waivers being valid for no more than 12 consecutive months (rather than indefinitely) and that can’t be extended beyond the county geographic reach.
• Shift the burden of SNAP benefit payments on states (Sec. 10006), forcing states to shoulder a cost they are unable to afford after more than 50 years of the federal government paying for SNAP benefits. There is an across-the-board requirement for all states to pay 5% of the cost of SNAP allotments starting in fiscal year 2028, with the percentage increasing based on each state’s SNAP error rate (between 15-25%). Many states are struggling to administer SNAP to begin with, and a number of governors are already saying that they can’t absorb this type of burden without cutting benefits, imposing eligibility requirements, or both. This unprecedented shift is a clear effort to force states to decline to participate in SNAP.
• Increase the state share (and reduce the federal share) of SNAP administrative costs (Sec. 10007), moving from a 50-50 split to increase the state share to 75%, placing a difficult burden on states that face difficult budgetary landscapes in the first place, which will harm food insecure people living in those states.
• Expand the general work requirement (Sec. 10008) to include anyone in the age bracket of 18-64 and parents of children 7 and up. Currently, anyone age 16-59 who is not working at least 30 hours per week or otherwise exempt (i.e. disabled or caring for a child under 6) must participate in SNAP E&T or lose benefits for a period of time, but this would result in an automatic 3-year restriction.
• Limit SNAP benefits to those who are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents and possibly others (Sec. 10012), continuing to spread the false narrative that undocumented immigrants can receive SNAP (they cannot, and never could). This will further restrict benefits for refugees, asylees and possibly others — all of whom are in the country legally after strict and onerous background checks.

To learn more about SNAP and why it is so critical to millions of Americans, visit https://mazon.org/priorities/snap/.