Lawmakers seek to undo damage from H.R. 1
Lawmakers introduced legislation this week in both the House and Senate that would reverse historic cuts to the nation’s leading food assistance program slated to begin next year under President Trump’s economic agenda.
The Restoring Food Security for American Families and Farmers Act (H.R. 6088) would reverse nearly $200 billion in cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) outlined in H.R. 1 and undo the state cost shift that could cripple the program.
“Sixteen million kids rely on SNAP to keep from going hungry,” said Chad Bolt, Senior Vice President for Economic Security at First Focus Campaign for Children. “Those kids need Congress to pass the Restoring Food Security for American Families and Farmers Act to reverse the cuts scheduled to go into effect starting next year. Anything less is a deliberate policy choice that sabotages our nation’s lowest-income children.”
H.R.1, also known as The One Big Beautiful Bill, will slash nearly $200 billion from SNAP over the next decade, with states required to pay a larger share of benefits starting next year. As those costs ramp up, states could be forced to reduce benefits or the number of kids who receive them, and many states could be forced to abandon the program altogether.
Research has found that kids who participate in SNAP enjoy better health, not only as children but well into adulthood. They do better in school and have higher graduation rates. They are less likely to fall victim to abuse or maltreatment, because having a steady food budget reduces the household stress than can push even the best parents over the edge.
Learn more about the impact of SNAP and the importance of the Restoring Food Security for American Families and Farmers Act at First Focus on Children.