WASHINGTON (July 23, 2019) – Rep. Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11), Chair of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations, issued a statement Tuesday following the release of the Administration’s proposed rule to eliminate broad-based categorical eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

“The Administration’s ill-conceived proposal will kick millions of people off SNAP—seniors, children, working families and the disabled.  It is yet another attack on hungry Americans that ignores the clearly-stated will of Congress.  We debated similar proposals in the bipartisan-led 2014 and 2018 Farm Bills.  They were rejected due to the overwhelming number of states that rely on the flexibility of categorical eligibility to provide critical assistance to people in need.   As I’ve said before, Republicans love talking about states’ rights and the importance of state flexibility, but when it comes to putting that rhetoric into practice for SNAP, they take the opposite position.  The ugly truth no one in this Administration wants to admit is this: the economy isn’t working for our most vulnerable. They still need a hand up, not a heartless, mean-spirited policy.”