February 14, 2020 - Issue: Vol. 166, No. 31 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 2nd Session

[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E185]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRUMP BUDGET CUTS TO SNAP

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                           HON. ALMA S. ADAMS

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 14, 2020

  Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak for our food insecure 
families.
  Federal anti-hunger programs like SNAP play a vital role in the lives 
of 12th District families, but the Trump Budget slashes $182 billion 
from food assistance programs.
  President Trump's proposal to cut SNAP benefits comes on the heels of 
three USDA rules which will cut benefits for almost 4 million Americans 
and jeopardize 1 million children's access to free school breakfast and 
lunch.
  These are real people they're hurting. These are our children, our 
friends, our neighbors.
  Here's the sad truth: this President wants to pay for his billionaire 
tax cuts by letting children starve.
  A couple months ago, I visited Windsor Park Elementary School in 
Charlotte as they were putting together their first food pantry for 
students.
  Of their 650 students, many are homeless and 150 have immediate 
needs.
  Their food pantry was put together because students kept asking their 
teachers and administrators for food.
  Principal Shanna Rae told a local TV station that ``you can tell a 
difference in students when they have something to eat.''
  That's not Oliver Twist: sadly, that's our community.
  Over 20 million children across our country rely on SNAP.
  Instead of cutting SNAP, we should expand it, so that children and 
families don't have to worry about where their next meal is going to 
come from.
  Scripture tells us that Jesus said, ``Let the little children come to 
me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such 
as these.''
  How can we expect them to do that if they have nothing to eat?

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