Devastating Cuts to America's Top Anti-Poverty Initiative to Fuel Billionaire Tax Breaks

"A civilized society inherently seeks to assist those struggling to provide for their basic needs. Witnessing the dismantling of such support merely to allocate greater tax advantages for the wealthy is not just objectionable; it is profoundly inhumane." – New York Governor Kathy Hochul. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), historically recognized as a paramount antipoverty initiative for non-elderly Americans, had previously shielded nearly 6.6 million individuals, including 3 million children, from poverty prior to the COVID-19 crisis. A 2021 enhancement in benefits further safeguarded an additional 2.9 million. For every dollar invested in SNAP, approximately $1.80 in immediate economic activity is generated; with long-term impacts yielding $62 per dollar for young children. However, the recent “Big Ugly Bill,” enacted by Congress, threatens over 22 million families, with more than 3 million set to be removed from its safeguards within a year. This significant reduction disproportionately affects families of color, doubling their reliance on SNAP compared to White families and exacerbating already impactful economic challenges. Maintaining and enhancing SNAP is imperative, not only for humanitarian reasons but also from an economic standpoint.