January 31, 2014
Statement of Legislator Solages in Response to U.S. House of Representatives Passage of a Farm Bill Cutting SNAP by nearly $9 Billion
(MINEOLA, NY) – On behalf of the 68,000 middle class and working class families of Nassau County who rely on the federal SNAP program to feed their families, I am devastated by the U.S. House of Representatives passage of a Farm Bill which cuts SNAP (formerly Food Stamps) by nearly $9 billion dollars. It makes no sense to cut food for hungry children, seniors, veterans, and working people – solely to fund more corporate welfare.
If enacted into law, these cuts would be in addition to $5 billion in SNAP cuts that went into effect on November 1st.The new cuts would have a dramatic, negative impact on Nassau County, America’s first suburb.According to a “New York Times” article titled Cul De Sac Poverty (May 20, 2013), the suburban poor now outnumber the urban poor by 3 million, and the number of impoverished people soared by 64 percent in the suburbs compared to 29 percent in cities.
We cannot turn our back on our most vulnerable citizens. The weight of more cuts falls most heavily upon the working poor, who deserve to have the ability to at least feed their families. Those who rely on SNAP are already struggling to put food on the table. Instead of aiding those in need, Congress has chosen to turn a blind eye. Our children should not have to choose between the heating bill and dinner.
I thank the entire New York City Democratic Congressional Delegation for voting NO on this bill. If this bill passes the Senate, we strongly urge President Obama to veto it.
I also implore Bishop William Francis Murphy of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre to speak out and stand up for the poor on this issue in hopes of being more consistent with the teachings of Pope Francis. Pope Francis proclaimed on March 19, 2013 in his inaugural homily, “I would like to ask all those who have positions of responsibility in economic, political and social life, and all men and women of goodwill: let us be ‘protectors’ of creation, protectors of God’s plan inscribed in nature, protectors of one another and of the environment.”