House GOP's new SNAP reforms could cost Oklahoma up to $375M annually
TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) — House Republicans rolled out legislation that would make major reforms to SNAP on Monday evening.
The party is looking to make deep cuts in federal spending to advance the President's legislative agenda.
The House Agriculture Committee's proposal would require states to cover a portion of SNAP benefit costs and tighten eligibility requirements.
The Congressional Budget Office found the proposal would save up to $300 billion over the next decade.
Hunger Free Oklahoma, a non-profit seeking to end hunger in the state, is against the plan.
“SNAP is the most effective, efficient, and essential antihunger program in the country, not just for families, but for local economies,” said Chris Bernard, CEO for Hunger Free Oklahoma. “These proposals don’t fix anything. The proposals are not about efficiency or effectiveness; they are simply designed to push people off or keep people from accessing a benefit in order to reach an arbitrary number of cost reductions.”
By shifting SNAP benefit costs to the states, Oklahoma could take on $75 million to $375 million in new annual costs.
“This kind of policy punishes states with fewer resources,” Bernard added. “It also undermines a core principle of the program: the ability to expand and contract in response to economic conditions. Under this cost-sharing plan, states would be required to contribute more during economic downturns—precisely when they face declining revenue and increased pressure to cut spending.”
Hunger Free Oklahoma is recommending that people contact Congress members to urge them to protect and strengthen SNAP instead of passing the proposal by the House Agriculture Committee.
