East Texas Food Bank reacts to Senate’s bill to cut nearly $186 billion in food assistance

TYLER, Texas (KETK)– The East Texas Food Bank (ETFB) released a statement addressing their concerns after the U.S. Senate passed a bill that will cut an estimated $186 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Since its modern-day inception 50 years ago, SNAP has provided Americans with food assistance during times of crisis, economic downturn and natural disaster. The bill will alter the program’s structure by shifting billions in costs to states, including Texas, and represents the most sweeping rollback of SNAP in U.S. history.

ETFB chief executive officer, David Emerson, spoke about how the cutting of SNAP funds will have a negative impact on East Texas families and urged lawmakers to act now to protect SNAP.

“Slashing SNAP will push even more families into crisis, especially in rural areas like East Texas where the program is a critical lifeline. These cuts will have immediate and devastating consequences — more empty refrigerators, more hungry children and more impossible choices between food, medicine and rent,” Emerson said. “The ripple effects will hit local economies hard, stalling recovery and deepening poverty. We urge lawmakers to act now — protect and strengthen SNAP before more lives are put at risk.”

Celia Cole, the CEO of Feeding Texas, also released a statement about the negative implications that cutting SNAP will have on Americans.

“The consequences would be profound and devastating. Millions of Americans—including children, seniors, veterans and working families—could go hungry,” Cole said. “In addition to the significant and undue harm for vulnerable Americans, the bill also deals a blow to farmers, grocers and our state and local economies.”

According to an ETFB press release, the senate’s bill will increase Texas’ share of the administrative costs for SNAP by $716 million per year by the 2028 fiscal year. ETFB said this would force Texas state lawmakers to either raise new money, divert funds to cover those costs or lower SNAP benefits for Texans.

“SNAP is a lifeline for millions of Texans, especially during times of crisis,” Cole said. “The program works because it’s federally funded and responsive to fluctuations in the economy. Offloading benefit costs to states would undermine SNAP’s ability to respond to economic downturns and natural disasters—precisely when families need help the most, and state coffers are most depleted.” 

The ETFB was established in 1988 and currently serves 26 counties. The non-profit provides around 31 million meals to East Texans every year and is part of the Feeding Texas network, which is comprised of 20 food banks and over 3,000 local partners.

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