WATCH: Reps. Duckworth, Foster and Kelly oppose slashing of $20 billion in food assistance

June 20, 2013

By Natasha Korecki, Chicago Sun-Times

Three Chicago-area Congressional Democrats spoke on the House floor today urging against a proposed $20 billion in cuts over 10 years from a food assistance program that they say will mean a huge hit to food depositories and soup kitchens.

The proposed cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP are tucked into the Farm Bill, now being debated. A vote is expected in the next hour or so.

“The Center of Budget and Policy Priorities estimates that these cuts would leave 2 million Americans without essential food assistance and cut 200,000 children from the school lunch program,” said Foster (D-Ill.). “Food pantries in all corners of my district tell me that they are already struggling to keep up with need.”

Duckworth (D-Ill.) proposed an amendment that would will require the Secretary of Agriculture to report to Congress on the effects of SNAP cuts on charitable food providers.

“Charities like the Church of the Holy Spirit Food Pantry in Schaumburg, are already stretched to the limit, trying to meet the needs of our communities during these tough economic times,” Duckworth said, in urging a no vote.