As Massachusetts anti-hunger and anti-poverty organizations, we know that poverty and hunger are inextricably linked. SNAP food benefits and TANF cash benefits are both critical anti-poverty programs. We urge our delegation to do everything in your power to protect both SNAP and TANF from any cuts in debt ceiling negotiations.

In Massachusetts, SNAP helps more than 655,000 households put food on the table each month. Almost 40,000 Massachusetts families with no or extremely low income help pay their rent, utilities, and basic living costs with TANF. Decades of evidence demonstrate that SNAP and TANF improve health outcomes and reduce food insecurity, poverty, and homelessness.

Proposals from Speaker McCarthy to expand the SNAP work-reporting rules would harm tens of thousands of older adults in Massachusetts. Proposals to slash TANF flexibilities for states would narrow opportunity for Massachusetts’ lowest income families, would exacerbate inequality, and would have particularly adverse impacts on people of color in Massachusetts who are disproportionately in severe poverty.

President Biden said he would not accept policies that would impact people’s medical health needs. Having enough income to meet basic needs and being able to put nutritious food on the table are essential for health.

President Biden and Congressional leaders must reject any proposals that take away health care, food or income support from the people who count on it to meet their basic needs.

Contact:
Victoria Negus, Massachusetts Law Reform Institute
vnegus@mlri.org