SNAP needs protection again, now

For a brief moment last fall, hunger in America commanded the attention it deserved.

As the federal government shutdown deepened, so did the possibility that millions of families could lose access to grocery benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. Politicians held news conferences at food banks and pantries. Emergency food campaigns flooded social media. In New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul mobilized to prepare temporary relief in case federal benefits disappeared.

Thankfully, New York was able to keep benefits flowing to families and avert a statewide hunger catastrophe. But SNAP became a national rallying cry because leaders understood what was at stake: families' ability to put food on the table. A half-year later, as the program faces an even greater threat, Washington has lost its sense of urgency to keep millions of families fed.

SNAP is the nation's most effective anti-hunger program that helps millions of Americans, including about 150,000 Long Islanders, put food on the table — and it's under attack. Last year, Congress approved an unprecedented $200 billion in cuts to SNAP as part of a sweeping budget package. From that, new work requirements went into effect this week that will make it harder for an estimated 25,000 Long Islanders, including about 4,850 in Nassau County and 21,000 in Suffolk, to access benefits. There are even more dangerous provisions on the way.

Yet Congress has a chance now to provide relief for SNAP recipients through the farm bill. The legislation, which funds SNAP benefits, recently passed the House and did nothing to address the coming crisis, but the Senate has an opportunity to make things right. With momentum building to delay the most harmful provision — the state cost-sharing burden — the Senate faces a critical choice: Accept devastating changes that will push millions more kids into hunger, or reject the House bill and pass a farm bill that provides relief for states and families.

All this is happening as rising food costs and growing financial strains are making it harder for working families to afford food. According to a recent poll by No Kid Hungry New York, 59% of Long Island residents have had to choose between paying for food and covering other basic necessities like rent, utilities and transportation.

SNAP benefits are not lavish. The average benefit works out to roughly $6 per person per day. But for families receiving SNAP who have already stretched their budgets as far as possible, that extra support can be the difference between a full plate and an empty stomach.

Protecting SNAP is about more than preventing hunger today. It is also an investment in economic stability, as SNAP benefits are an important source of revenue for farmers, markets and grocery stores.

New York is stepping up. Gov. Hochul and the State Legislature just approved a state budget that advances important policies to help families facing food insecurity. That includes new chip-enabled benefit cards to combat SNAP theft and fraud, support for summer meal programs, and investments in affordable child care that give families more flexibility in their budgets to cover groceries and other expenses.

But state action alone cannot offset massive federal cuts. Hunger is a national issue, and only Congress has the power to protect food assistance at the scale families need.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and New York's congressional delegation fought hard to protect SNAP during the shutdown last year. In the face of a worsening hunger crisis today, they must do so again.

This guest essay reflects the views of Rachel Sabella, director of No Kid Hungry New York.