{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/blog/managing-snap-cuts-today-resisting-larger-cuts-tomorrow", "Managing SNAP Cuts Today, Resisting Larger Cuts Tomorrow", "2013-11-01", "2013", "2013-11", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Friday, November 1, 2013\n\t\t\t\t Managing SNAP Cuts Today, Resisting Larger Cuts Tomorrow \n\t\t\t\t\n                        by Senator Angus King \n                        \n                 \n\t\n\t            \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t  \t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\tAs members of the Farm Bill conference committee work to pass a five-year Farm Bill, one of the most contentious issues will surely be funding for SNAP and other vital nutrition programs. It\u2019s unfortunate that in a country as wealthy as ours, we can\u2019t seem to agree on the importance of helping our most vulnerable individuals. Though this situation will undoubtedly require compromise, the level of SNAP cuts proposed by the House of Representatives \u2013 almost $40 billion over the next decade \u2013 is simply too high. \u00a0\r\nWe have to remember that regardless of what happens in conference, SNAP benefits are already being cut. Starting today, the program will automatically lose $5 billion over the next year. These across-the-board cuts, which will strip $26 million in SNAP benefits for Mainers according to the Center for Budget Policy Priorities, are going to put further strain on people that are already struggling to feed themselves and their families.\r\nJust last week, I was able to see first-hand how the Cooking Matters program is making a difference when I joined one of their grocery store tours at the Hannaford in Portland. Over the course of the visit, I learned how the program helps people to find cheaper, healthier food options and make their now-reduced benefits go further.\r\nTogether with Good Shepherd Food Bank, the University of New England and Healthy Maine Partnerships, Share Our Strength\u2019s Cooking Matters program empowers Maine families with the skills they need to stretch their food budgets and cook healthier meals for their families. Cooking Matters in Maine is expected to reach over 1,500 participants this year. There is always a need to help people maximize their SNAP benefits, but this work is particularly relevant today given the new wave of cuts.\r\nDespite their best efforts, programs like Cooking Matters can only do so much. While the cuts that took effect today will make their job harder, I believe that the $40 billion cuts would turn a difficult job into an impossible one. Non-profits and church groups will not be able to fill the void left by such drastic changes to SNAP.\r\nWe can and should work to increase SNAP program efficiency, but there is a significant difference between reforms and large-scale cuts disguised as reforms. I believe the House proposal falls in the latter category, and I have urged the Farm Bill conference committee to resist it.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/blog/managing-snap-cuts-today-resisting-larger-cuts-tomorrow"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9026399347931147, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}