House lawmakers argue proposed change to food stamps would harm veterans

WASHINGTON – Veterans could be disproportionately harmed by potential changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps, a group of Democratic House lawmakers argued Wednesday.

President Donald Trump’s administration is proposing changes to SNAP that would result in an estimated 3 million people losing food assistance – a savings of $2.5 billion each year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Thirty-nine lawmakers signed onto a letter Wednesday to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, arguing the veterans on SNAP could be negatively affected. They pleaded with Perdue to withdraw the proposal.

“USDA should be doing more to increase SNAP participation for veterans who experience food insecurity, rather than proposing new restrictions that worsen hunger among those who have made great sacrifices for our country,” they wrote.

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