Ivy Enoch: Why SNAP must be protected for future generations

This commentary is by Ivy Enoch, SNAP policy and training lead at Hunger Free Vermont.

As we mark the 60th anniversary of the Food Stamps Act, now known as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) nationally and 3SquaresVT here in Vermont, it is crucial to recognize the profound impact this landmark legislation has had on reducing hunger and poverty across the United States.

Since its inception in 1964, SNAP has become a cornerstone of our nation’s work to end hunger, ensuring millions of Americans have access to nourishing food to lead healthy lives. Studies have consistently shown that SNAP not only helps to put food on the table but also contributes to better long-term health, educational outcomes, and economic stability.

Every $1 spent on SNAP generates $1.79 in economic activity . In State Fiscal Year 2023, over $214 million in SNAP benefits were issued to Vermonters. These federal dollars give people the autonomy to buy the groceries that are right for them and their families, when and where they want.

In Vermont, the impact has been equally significant. More than 65,000 people across the state benefit from 3SquaresVT — helping to ensure that children, working adults, college students, people with disabilities, older adults and many others can afford the food they need to thrive. However, many more are eligible for this vital state program and are not yet tapping into its support. 3SquaresVT is for everyone who qualifies, and we all deserve this benefit in times of need.

At Hunger Free Vermont, we believe that everyone deserves access to the nourishing food they love, and programs like SNAP are essential in moving us toward a more equitable future. The benefits of SNAP extend beyond individual households; the program brings important federal dollars into Vermont’s economy, supports local retailers and farmers and helps ensure that future generations are well-fed and thriving.

As we celebrate and reflect on how SNAP has served so many in the last 60 years, we can’t ignore the unfortunate truth that SNAP is under threat. In early 2023, as Congress geared up to revisit and ultimately reauthorize the 2018 Farm Bill, Hunger Free Vermont and our allies delivered a set of policy priorities to Sens. Sanders and Welch, and Rep. Balint, informed by hundreds of individuals across the state.

That message was clear and remains the same: protect SNAP and other federal nutrition programs no matter what. Our senators and representative heard that message and centered the voices of Vermonters, and for that, we deeply thank them.

Instead of a reauthorization, Congress passed a one-year extension of the 2018 Farm Bill, which ensured that funding for SNAP and other federal nutrition programs would not lapse. This year, the House and Senate Agriculture Committees finally took up the Farm Bill, resulting in two dangerously different visions for the future of food security and agriculture policies.

While the Senate proposal included measures to protect and strengthen SNAP, House Agriculture Committee Chair Glenn Thompson’s Farm Bill framework proposed to slash SNAP over the next decade. The Congressional Budget Office estimates a Thompson Farm Bill would result in a $30 billion cut to SNAP over 10 years . In Vermont, that would mean a $50 million cut to SNAP between FY2027 and FY2033.

These cuts would disproportionately affect older adults, children, people with disabilities, and veterans, exacerbating the challenges they already face in accessing nutritious food. A Farm Bill that doesn’t protect SNAP would harm all of us in Vermont — not only SNAP participants but also food shelves and pantries, farmers and markets, and our local businesses and retailers. We can’t let this happen.

Now more than ever, we need to unify our support of SNAP and champion the program that supports tens of thousands of Vermonters, and our state food security efforts as a whole. We hope you’ll join us in advocating for a Farm Bill that strengthens SNAP and ensures its responsiveness to the injustice of hunger. We encourage everyone to see if they qualify for 3SquaresVT. To learn more about the program, visit vermontfoodhelp.com .

Read the story on VTDigger here: Ivy Enoch: Why SNAP must be protected for future generations .