Cohen Calls on Republicans to Drop Plans to Push Millions of Americans into Hunger

[MEMPHIS, TN] – As House Republican leaders rushed through a bill that cuts $40 billion from a critical part of our nation’s safety net, the SNAP food-stamp program, Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) took to the floor of the House of Representatives and called on his colleagues to reject the draconian cuts and not push millions of Americans into hunger. Video of his remarks is available here.

“These cuts will devastate the 68,000 Ninth District residents and millions of Americans who see SNAP as a lifeline during a difficult time,” said Congressman Cohen. “$40 billion in draconian cuts to this critical program would take food right out of their mouths, all in the name of so-called ‘fraud.’ Where is the Republican outrage over the billions in fraud at the Pentagon and with defense contractors? Instead of focusing on helping people get out of poverty, Republicans are again choosing to make things harder for our middle class families.”

SNAP is a vital tool to fight hunger and help struggling Americans feed their families as they seek new employment, send their children to school, and get themselves back on their feet. As 1 in 5 children in this country struggles with hunger, the $40 billion in cuts included in today’s bill would take the food out of the mouths of nearly 4 million Americans next year, particularly harming children, seniors, veterans, and Americans living in urban and suburban communities with chronically high unemployment.