Congressman Peters Opposes Massive Cuts to Food Assistance Programs

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Scott Peters (CA-52) released the following statement regarding his vote against H.R. 3102, the ‘Nutrition Reform and Work Opportunity Act,’ which would gut nearly $40 billion dollars from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) over the next ten years. According to the Congressional Budget Office, those cuts would result in 3.5 million low and middle-income Americans either losing food assistance or seeing reductions in benefits. The bill passed the House on a 217-210 vote.

“I could not support the enormous cuts to SNAP that were proposed today. While there are undoubtedly places to cut waste and fraud within the program, as well as improve efficiency to save costs, this proposal would cut nearly half of the program. SNAP provides nutrition assistance to those most in need. 92% of recipients are children, the elderly, the disabled, or are already working. For Americans relying on SNAP benefits to put food on the table, this is a draconian cut that in this slow economic recovery they can least afford. It is time that Congress got back to work creating jobs and economic opportunities for Americans rather than cutting the safety net out from under the most vulnerable.”

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