Just Harvest Condemns Passage of Reconciliation Bill that Will Harm Millions
PITTSBURGH, PA – This past weekend, on Independence Day, President Donald Trump signed a bill into law with the deepest cuts in history to the food assistance and healthcare programs that act as lifelines to millions of people. Millions of people that we all know. Your neighbor, your colleague, your friend, your mother, your children – or yourself.
On a day dedicated to the celebration of our country, Congress and the Trump administration demonstrated a cruelty towards everyday Americans in order to give tax breaks to billionaires. We are devastated by this reckless attack on humanity. This bill will do catastrophic damage to communities across the country, across Pennsylvania, and here in Allegheny County.
At Just Harvest, our work connects us to people who are seeking ways to keep food on the table. Food costs are higher than ever, and many people are struggling every day to feed their families. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – our nation’s first line of defense against hunger – serves around 2 million people in Pennsylvania, with over half of those people being in families with children.
“This is a devastating blow to families already on the edge across Pennsylvania. Just Harvest is mobilizing with our communities and partners across the state to fight back—and to demand policies that protect, not punish, those struggling to get by” Said Heather Seiders, Interim Executive Director.
Many families, older adults, veterans, former foster youth, and people experiencing homelessness, will now be further subject to barriers that keep them from accessing necessary treatment and nutrition. In Allegheny County alone, over 20,000 of the 85,000 adults who receive SNAP will be tasked with more paperwork to keep their benefits.
“Rather than investing in improving the accuracy, accessibility, or fidelity of SNAP, this bill brutally requires that taxpayer dollars be utilized to abusively force poor and hungry people to prove they deserve food,” described Ann Sanders, director of Public Benefits Policy and Programs.
“Congress failed to address the true fraud in SNAP in this sweeping legislation: ongoing benefit theft. Left unprotected by Congress’ failure to act on this issue, families will continue to experience hunger – and even more families will go hungry from these new paperwork hurdles they are creating.”
Additionally, Pennsylvania will be tasked with paying up to $680 Million each year to maintain current benefit levels – almost double the funding that goes towards our community colleges.
As this administration deepens the deficit and continues to build barriers that keep low income people from essential needs, a grossly excessive amount of resources are being allocated to funding the military and inhumane attacks against immigrants. We must recognize and remember those in leadership who have failed us. Congress has acted to weaken the system for the working class, and restructure it so that it only serves the ultra-wealthy.
Across the nation, Americans raised their voices to urge members of Congress to protect them against the severe harm contained in this bill. While they did not act on the pleas of their constituents, the fight is not over. Just Harvest, alongside a strong force of advocates across the country, will push back and work with states to mitigate harm. Your voice has not gone unheard, and it is vital that it only grows louder. We will continue to take action against hunger, and encourage all people of Pennsylvania to stay informed and involved.
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Contact:
Katherine Taylor
Communications Coordinator, Just Harvest
katherinet@justharvest.org
