FoodCorps’ Statement on House Vote to Cut SNAP Funding

FoodCorps’ Statement on House Vote to Cut SNAP Funding

Last night, the House of Representatives voted to advance a budget proposal that includes up to $300 billion in cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The bill now moves to the Senate. 

These unprecedented reductions would not only deepen food insecurity for millions of children and families, but also severely undermine access to free school meals through the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP).

Through CEP and a process called direct certification, families participating in SNAP can automatically receive free school meals without additional paperwork. Policies that consider SNAP are crucial in extending nutrition access to working families and their children.

Understanding how these systems work together helps us protect access to meals for children in our communities. And weakening access to SNAP would reduce the number of students directly certified for free meals, making it harder for schools to qualify for CEP.

Changes to SNAP through these cuts would have a profound impact on the number of children who benefit from free school meals. These changes will increase administrative burdens for school nutrition workers; create unnecessary, stigmatizing bureaucratic hurdles for families; and ultimately deny children the nutritious meals they need to learn and thrive. If this bill passes in the Senate, millions of children will lose access to the free school meals that nourish them every day. 

As the reconciliation process moves forward, we urge Congress to reject any efforts that weaken SNAP or limit direct certification pathways. Protecting SNAP is essential to safeguarding school meals and ensuring that every child has the opportunity to succeed.

Contact your senators today and urge them to reject this harmful spending bill. 

About FoodCorps
FoodCorps is a national nonprofit advancing child well-being through food in school. FoodCorps partners with students, families, and communities to champion nourishing food at local, state, and national levels. Our AmeriCorps members support schools in providing nutritious meals, locally-informed food education, and welcoming school environments that set kids up for positive, vibrant relationships with food. Building on this program, we develop leaders, grow networks, and advocate for policies in service of every kid’s health and well-being. FoodCorps is working toward a world where, by 2030, all 50 million public school students have access to food education and nourishing meals in school. Learn more at www.foodcorps.org.

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