The Kentucky agency that oversees the federal nutrition program, formally known as food stamps, is critical of a piece of Congressional legislation to cut billions of dollars from the program. In western Kentucky, more than 42,000 households in the 1st congressional district receive financial assistance from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP.
Kentucky Community Health Services Assistant Communication Director Gwenda Bond said any SNAP benefit reduction will hurt those using assistance to help meet their nutrition needs.
Last week, the Republican-controlled US House of Representatives voted to cut $4 billion annually from the $80 billion program. The proposal, which comes as part of the Farm Bill, would also cause 3 million recipients to lose their benefits.
Democratic leaders in the Senate said they won’t pass the bill and President Obama promised he would veto the legislation if it ever reached his desk.
Bond said the CHFS continues to monitor the legislation to have a more complete picture of the law's effects on Kentucky families. If Congress does not pass the bill, the food stamp program would continue as is.
