New Democrat Coalition Vice Chair for Outreach Salud Carbajal (CA-24), alongside House Agriculture Committee Vice Ranking Member Shontel Brown (OH-11) and Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture Ranking Member Jahana Hayes (CT-05), hosted a roundtable discussion on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) with representatives from nonprofit organizations, advocacy groups, unions, and industry.

During the discussion, Members and stakeholders discussed the sweeping impacts of Congressional Republicans’ plan to cut $300 billion from SNAP, including devastating effects on state-run nutrition programs, families, children, food banks, farmers, rural economies, and more. Participants also discussed the efforts of their organizations to fight back against these cuts, and what more New Dems can do to help lift up the many voices of those who would be negatively impacted.

Reps. Salud Carbajal, Shontel Brown, and Jahana Hayes issued a statement following the roundtable:

“We thank our colleagues and our guests for participating in this crucial conversation today. As Republicans work to rip food from the mouths of hungry children, seniors, and Veterans by slashing nutrition assistance funding, New Dems are more committed than ever to safeguarding the SNAP benefits more than 40 million Americans rely on..."

The New Democrat Coalition made the fourth stop on its New Dems on the Road Tour, an initiative spearheaded by Vice Chair for Policy Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) to get New Dem Members out of DC to hear from American workers, businesses, industry experts, nongovernmental organizations and local leaders about how to improve policy in Washington. 

New Dem Rural Broadband Task Force Chair April McClain Delaney (MD-06) hosted Vice Chair for Policy Nikki Budinski in Frederick County, Maryland to tour a local broadband construction site and hold a roundtable discussion on rural broadband with government officials, industry representatives, and local leaders. 

"Having helped lead the BEAD program at NTIA, I know that access to high-speed internet in rural communities is one of the most impactful, common-sense investments we can make in America’s future,” said Task Force Chair April McClain Delaney. “So I was proud to host this roundtable in my district to highlight the real progress we’re making to close the digital divide and transform lives by expanding education, improving health care and creating good-paying jobs. I’m grateful to all the officials, industry leaders and other stakeholders who joined us today to discuss how broadband is strengthening communities right here in Maryland—and to reinforce why we must continue to work together to bring opportunity to every town across the country.”