Rep. Lawler's SNAP Cuts Are Now Hitting Hudson Valley Families

The consequences of the Republican Tax Law are now reaching families across New York and the Hudson Valley.

WESTCHESTER, NEW YORK — The largest SNAP cuts in American history are beginning to hit New York families. Rep. Mike Lawler voted for these cuts as part of the Republican Tax Law, celebrated the legislation that enacted them, and later voted to maintain them by supporting the House Farm Bill, which failed to restore them.

The Republican Tax Law delivered massive tax breaks to billionaires while making historic cuts to SNAP. One year later, 4 million people have already lost food assistance, and the pain is only beginning. Across New York and the country, parents, veterans, older adults, people experiencing homelessness, and young adults aging out of foster care are now being forced to stretch already tight budgets even further just to afford groceries.

An estimated 318,000 New Yorkers are at risk of losing some SNAP benefits because of the law. In New York's 17th Congressional District, more than 67,000 people rely on SNAP, including nearly 28,000 households. Nearly half of SNAP recipients in the district are children.

SNAP provides roughly $155 million in annual food assistance in NY-17 and supports an estimated $238 million in economic activity for local businesses, grocery stores, and farmers' markets throughout the Hudson Valley.

"As a constituent who relies on these programs, it is insulting that every time families need help, Rep. Lawler finds another way to take money out of our pockets and hand it to billionaire interests," said Gaye Corselli, a South Salem resident. "It's the same story every time: money for billionaires, money for special interests, but nothing for families struggling to afford groceries. Rep. Lawler needs to fund programs like SNAP, not cut them."

If you're feeling the impact of rising costs and reduced programs, join your neighbors and Empire State Voices at our Summer Kickoff Party this Friday, June 26, at 5:00 p.m. Share your story, connect with your community, and help shine a light on the challenges Hudson Valley families are facing. RSVP here!

To learn more about Empire State Voices, contact press@empirestatevoices.org

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About Empire State Voices 

Empire State Voices is a multi-year campaign dedicated to amplifying the voices of everyday working New Yorkers. We are fighting for economic policies that make life more affordable for constituents and holding members of Congress across the state accountable when they fail to do the same. To learn more about Empire State Voices, contact press@empirestatevoices.org