Cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

Floor Speech

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to point out the near-universal condemnation that the majority's wrong-headed plan to cut $40 billion from food stamps has received from advocates, researchers, and American families.

The Center for Budget and Policy Priorities has noted how 170,000 veterans could lose access to food aid because of this act.

The National Education Association said this plan will ``result in more than 210,000 children losing access to nutritious meals, which help children be more attentive in class.''

AARP condemns this bill saying ``hungry children, seniors and families cannot and should not have to wait on the economic and political sidelines for access to an effective nutrition safety net.''

Homeless organizations have said this act will ``worsen the lives of up to 4 million Americans who are either homeless already or whose risk of homelessness would become even more severe.''

The Catholic Bishops have said this bill will ``harm hungry children, poor families, vulnerable citizens, seniors and workers who are underemployed and unable to find employment.''

The list of opposition to tomorrow's bill goes on, even from Republican leaders like Senator Bob Dole.

I urge all members of conscience in the majority to join with us tomorrow to vote down this cruel legislation.

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