The Republican-controlled House of Representatives has handed food stamp recipients a bitter blow. Now called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or "SNAP" for short, the program saw the House snap and snip its budget by nearly $36 billion dollars.
According to advocates with the Food Research and Action Center, this benefit reduction will affect every household that receives these food benefits, and will force millions out of the program.
The bill also cuts funding for children's health insurance, Medicaid, and eliminates the social services block grant which funds programs like Meals on Wheels in many communities.
Lubbock's Meals on Wheels program doesn't get federal monies. Lubbock Congressman Randy Neugebauer, a member of the House Agriculture Committee which oversees the SNAP Program in the Farm Bill, has gone on record saying reductions must be made to try to contain the overwhelming budget deficit.
David Weaver, President and CEO of the South Plains Food Bank, discussed with FOX 34's Jeff Klotzman, the strains felt by food banks and other health related programs, when both federal and private funds are seeing significant cuts. To watch that in-depth discussion, click on the video to the right.
