Tell Congress: Families Need Food, Not Cuts! 

As your constituent, I urge you to stand up for Minnesota's children and families by protecting critical food assistance programs from harmful cuts within the House Republican budget plan. This plan would require very deep cuts in critical programs – especially the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)– that will hurt thousands of low-income children, working parents, people with disabilities, some veterans, and older adults in our state.

SNAP is a lifeline for over 450,000 Minnesotans, 37% of whom are children, 17% are seniors, and 12% individuals with disabilities. Beyond putting food on the table, SNAP generates economic activity - every $1 in SNAP benefits generates approximately $1.50 in local economic impact. Farmers, grocers, and retailers across the state rely on SNAP to keep their businesses strong while also ensuring that families have access to nutritious foods.

Similarly, the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) allows high-need schools to serve breakfast and lunch to all students at no cost to them, directly addressing child hunger where it is most needed. Recent proposals to dramatically reduce the number of schools eligible for CEP would eliminate funding in Minnesota for over 200 schools and 87,000 students. Adding layers of unnecessary paperwork for Free and Reduced-Price school meals would also burden schools already stretched thin.

With the rising cost of food and other essentials, families across Minnesota are struggling more than ever. Food shelf visits have increased 134% since 2020, with nearly 9 million visits recorded in 2024 – 1.3 million more than in 2023. Cutting or restricting food assistance like SNAP and school meals would only put more pressure on emergency food systems that are already stretched thin in every corner of our state.

Minnesotans need your leadership now more than ever. I urge you to oppose any budget plan that requires cuts in SNAP. We cannot afford to take food away from children and families who depend on these essential programs. Your constituents, and your communities, are counting on you.

As your constituent, I urge you to stand up for Minnesota's children and families by protecting critical food assistance programs from harmful cuts. The Senate Republican budget plan paves the way for potential cuts in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which would hurt nearly 500,000 people in Minnesota, and the House Republican budget resolution would make extreme cuts that would take take away food assistance from millions of families already struggling to make ends meet.

SNAP is a lifeline for over 450,000 Minnesotans, 37% of whom are children, 17% are seniors, and 12% individuals with disabilities. Beyond putting food on the table, SNAP generates economic activity - every $1 in SNAP benefits generates approximately $1.50 in local economic impact. Farmers, grocers, and retailers across the state rely on SNAP to keep their businesses strong while also ensuring that families have access to nutritious foods.

Similarly, the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) allows high-need schools to serve breakfast and lunch to all students at no cost to them, directly addressing child hunger where it is most needed. Recent proposals to dramatically reduce the number of schools eligible for CEP would eliminate funding in Minnesota for over 200 schools and 87,000 students. Adding layers of unnecessary paperwork for Free and Reduced-Price school meals would also burden schools already stretched thin.

With the rising cost of food and other essentials, families across Minnesota are struggling more than ever. Food shelf visits have increased 134% since 2020, with nearly 9 million visits recorded in 2024 – 1.3 million more than in 2023. Cutting or restricting food assistance like SNAP and school meals would only put more pressure on emergency food systems that are already stretched thin in every corner of our state.

Minnesotans need your leadership now more than ever. I urge you to oppose any budget plan that requires cuts in SNAP. We cannot afford to take food away from children and families who depend on these essential programs. Your constituents, and your communities, are counting on you.