Home Virginia congresswoman and 23 colleagues push for protection of SNAP benefits
Local

Virginia congresswoman and 23 colleagues push for protection of SNAP benefits

Rebecca Barnabi
food grocery store
(© SGr – stock.adobe.com)

More than 34 million Americans are food insecure, including 9 million children.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is vital in feeding disadvantaged Americans every day.

U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger of Virginia joined her U.S. House Agriculture Committee Democrats in protecting the program as 2023 Farm Bill negotiations continue. Spanberger and 23 colleagues sent a letter to the U.S. House Budget Committee encouraging leadership to avoid making cuts to the program. The letter especially highlighted the positive economic effects and immediate impact of the federal nutrition program on children and families. Children who receive SNAP benefits have better health, including reduced obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes as adults.

“Over the next decade, SNAP spending will continue to support a robust national economy by returning $1.50 for each additional dollar spent in a recovering economy, and by generating hundreds of thousands of jobs in grocery, transportation, manufacturing, and other industries,” the letter states. “Further, SNAP’s outsized economic impact in rural communities will help to ensure that economic recovery does not leave these communities behind; SNAP spending is shown to increase rural economic output annually by 1.25 percent and rural employment by 1.18 percent and to have a stronger impact on poverty in rural counties than non-rural counties.”

The effort is led by U.S. Representative Jahana Hayes of Connecticut, who serves as Ranking Member of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee’s Nutrition, Foreign Agriculture and Horticulture Subcommittee.

Rebecca Barnabi

Rebecca Barnabi

Rebecca J. Barnabi is the national editor of Augusta Free Press. A graduate of the University of Mary Washington, she began her journalism career at The Fredericksburg Free-Lance Star. In 2013, she was awarded first place for feature writing in the Maryland, Delaware, District of Columbia Awards Program, and was honored by the Virginia School Boards Association’s 2019 Media Honor Roll Program for her coverage of Waynesboro Schools. Her background in newspapers includes writing about features, local government, education and the arts.

Latest News

chris graham acc
Football

Summer football media daze: I’ve attended my last ACC Kickoff

Sports Betting

How To Bet On UFC 318 In Florida

UFC 318 takes place in New Orleans on Saturday, July 19, and Florida sports fans are already looking for ways to legally bet on Holloway vs Poirier 3. While regulated apps aren’t available for sports betting in Florida, you can still place UFC 318 wagers using internationally licensed sportsbooks that serve U.S. players. These sites...

crime scene tape
Public Safety, Virginia

Henry County: Body found in roadway, investigation points to homicide

A 79-year-old man was found dead in the road in Henry County, and the the discovery is being investigated as a homicide.

UVA Health sign
Health, Local

UVA Health’s Melina Kibbe is sole finalist for UT Health Houston presidency

Sports Betting

How To Bet On UFC 318 In Texas

staunton-rolling-coal-incident-vehicle
Local, Politics, Public Safety

Staunton: Somehow, I’m now the prosecutor in the April 5 reckless driving case

hoist rescue old rag mountain madison county med flight 1
Public Safety, Virginia

Madison County: Injured hiker rescued from Old Rag Mountain Wednesday