Rep. Tim Kennedy Demands End to SNAP Funding Cuts

Congressman Kennedy Opposes SNAP Cuts in H.R.1

Congressman Tim Kennedy has raised concerns about the proposed changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) included in H.R.1, also known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” He argues that these changes could have a devastating impact on millions of Americans, particularly those who rely on SNAP benefits for their daily meals.

In his district, over 139,000 individuals receive SNAP assistance, including nearly 50,000 children, almost 20,000 seniors, and 12,000 people with disabilities. Kennedy emphasized that the bill would disproportionately affect the most vulnerable members of society, stating, “They’re perpetrating the greatest fraud on the people of this country that has ever been by passing the big ugly bill — the worst budget bill as far as I’m concerned — in the history of America where the poor are going to get poorer, the richest of Americans are getting richer on the backs of the poorest and the middle class.”

Rising Demand for Food Assistance

The need for food assistance in Western New York has surged in recent years. FeedMore WNY, a local organization that provides food aid, reported a 16% increase in people seeking help last year and a 46% increase over the past three years. Collin Bishop, FeedMore’s chief communications officer, highlighted the growing number of people facing food insecurity in the region.

“Currently, we are seeing a rapid increase in the number of people who are nutritionally insecure in our community. These changes to SNAP will only add to the burden, increasing the number of people who will need nutritional assistance through our work and our partner agencies,” Bishop said.

Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz echoed these concerns, calling the bill a “big shift of costs from the federal government to the state and local governments.” He added that while the effects of the cuts may not be immediately felt, they will likely be felt by residents in the long run.

Long-Term Impact of the Cuts

Kennedy warned that the $200 billion in cuts proposed in the bill could put 40 million people at risk of losing access to essential food assistance. He described the potential consequences as “hurtful to our state and hurtful to Western New York.”

Despite these warnings, some lawmakers have defended the bill. Congressman Nick Langworthy released a statement responding to Kennedy’s concerns, asserting that “not a single dollar is cut from benefits.” According to Langworthy, the bill aims to restore accountability by ending blanket waivers for able-bodied adults without dependents who refuse to work and requiring New York to verify eligibility and reduce waste.

Poloncarz noted that work requirements for SNAP have been in place for decades. He also pointed out that Erie County already has a special investigations division focused on identifying and addressing fraud within the program. While he supports efforts to combat waste, fraud, and abuse, he stressed that such cases are rare.

Ongoing Debate Over SNAP Policy

The debate over SNAP policy continues to spark heated discussions among lawmakers and community leaders. While some argue that the proposed changes will protect taxpayer dollars and ensure the program is used responsibly, others warn that the cuts could push more families into hunger and poverty.

As the conversation unfolds, the impact of these policies on vulnerable populations remains a central concern. With food insecurity on the rise, many are urging lawmakers to find solutions that support those in need without compromising the integrity of the program.

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Hope Winter, a reporter and multimedia journalist with the News 4 team since 2021, covers a wide range of local stories. Her work can be viewed online.

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