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November Arrives in Texas, Along with Cuts to SNAP
- Updated: November 12, 2013
Statewide, Four-Million to See Reductions in Food Stamps
by John Michaelson
A stimulus program that provided more funding for food stamps has now ended. Courtesy HSM
AUSTIN, Texas – The month of November has arrived in Texas, and along with it, an automatic reduction in funding for many families in the state who struggle to put food on the table. During the recession, there was a temporary increase in SNAP or food stamp benefits, but Celia Cole, chief executive officer of the Texas Food Bank Network, declared that that is now officially over.
“This is the result of the phasing out of a boost in benefits that occurred as part of the Economic Recovery Act that was passed in 2009, and every family in Texas and across the nation is going to see, on average, a $25 cut to their benefits and on November 1.”
The reductions come at the same time Congress is considering cuts to SNAP as part of a new Farm Bill. The Senate has proposed $4 billion in cuts, while the House wants to slash the program by up to $40 billion over ten years. Cole said that would be devastating.
“We’re talking about families with kids, children and seniors, people with disabilities who are going to be effected by these cuts,” she said. “And it comes at possibly the worst time for low-income Americans, as they struggle to get back on their feet after one of the greatest economic downturns in our history.”
About 4 million Texans rely on SNAP benefits to help keep groceries in the cupboard, and the state also has the second-highest number of food-insecure households in the nation.
More information on SNAP in Texas is at bit.ly/16pOnXa.
