Feeding America Strongly Opposes Proposed Cuts To Food Stamps

CHICAGO, March 5, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Statement Attributable to Bob Aiken, President and CEO of Feeding America:

"Feeding America strongly opposes legislation being introduced in the Senate that would cut $36 billion in critical food assistance for low-income families. This bill would be devastating to millions of vulnerable Americans who are struggling to make ends meet. The assertion that the bill would achieve billions in savings in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) without affecting food on the table is not true.

"If millions of SNAP households see their benefits cut or lose their benefits entirely - as they would under this bill - it will mean less food on the dinner table, in their refrigerator, and on their pantry's shelves.

"Food banks and other charities are already stretched thin trying to meet high need for food assistance. Feeding America food banks and other charities could not make up the difference if billions of dollars were cut from the SNAP program.

"Food bank leaders and staff from dozens of states around the country are on Capitol Hill today telling their members of Congress not to balance the budget on the backs of our most vulnerable. We urge Congress to work together to find balanced solutions to deficit reduction and to reject proposals to cut anti-hunger programs like SNAP."

About Feeding America

Feeding America provides low-income individuals and families with the fuel to survive and even thrive. As the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity, our network members supply food to more than 37 million Americans each year, including 14 million children and 3 million seniors. Serving the entire United States, more than 200 member food banks support 61,000 agencies that address hunger in all of its forms. For more information on how you can fight hunger in your community and across the country, visit http://www.feedingamerica.org. Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/FeedingAmerica or follow our news on Twitter at twitter.com/FeedingAmerica.

CONTACT: Ross Fraser, +1.312.641.6422

SOURCE Feeding America