John, this is exactly what I was afraid of: It was recently reported that Trump’s Big Ugly Bill could cause local grocery stores to close.
Trump and his GOP cronies in the House worked together to slash $186 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) through 2034, cutting the program's funding by around 20%. These changes could cause over half of the 40 million people who depend on SNAP to lose some or ALL of their benefits.
According to CNN, cutting food assistance benefits recklessly could also cause 27,000 retailers nationwide to close because most of their customers rely on SNAP benefits for groceries.
For every $5 in new SNAP benefits, up to $9 of economic activity is generated. This is just another example of Republicans actively working to damage our economy and harm our communities to fund their next ballroom renovation.
It is unacceptable. Many of these grocery stores that will close will be in low-income areas with large shares of SNAP recipients and regions that are already food deserts. We must hold Republicans accountable for their destruction.
Shontel Brown is proud to be elected as the Congresswoman for Ohio’s 11th District. She has spent the last decade serving the people of Ohio and building coalitions. As she enters her second full term in Congress, she will use that experience to continue the fight for affordable quality health care, jobs that pay fair wages, a strong public education system, and to preserve and protect our democracy for generations to come. Will you join her and be the change we need?
