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Albuquerque Journal
New Mexico food banks concerned Congress
will cut food assistance dollars - By Cathy Cook / Journal Staff Writer
New Mexico food bank leaders warn that Congress could make substantial cuts to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funding at a time when they expect the need for food assistance to rise.
On Friday morning, cars were lined up across the street from Roadrunner Food Bank’s Albuquerque office and warehouse to pick up food. But far more food is provided to New Mexicans through SNAP benefits than through food banks. For every one meal that food banks and food pantries provide, SNAP provides nine, said Katy Anderson, Roadrunner Food Bank’s vice president of strategy. There are 487,113 people in New Mexico receiving SNAP benefits. New Mexico had the highest rate of SNAP participation nationally in 2022, with 24% of residents enrolled, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture report.
“The groups that are going to suffer the most will be seniors and children,” Anderson said during a press conference hosted by Rep. Melanie Stansbury, D-N.M., at Roadrunner Food Bank Friday. Representatives from The Food Depot, Meals on Wheels New Mexico and Agri-Cultura Cooperative Network also shared their concerns about the potential cuts.
The House and Senate have adopted conflicting budget resolutions. Trump threw his support behind the House version, which will likely require significant cuts to Medicaid and SNAP to extend Trump’s 2017 tax cuts. Republican House leaders released a statement Monday pushing the Senate to take up the House’s budget resolution.
“The House is determined to send the president one big, beautiful bill that secures our border, keeps taxes low for our families and job creators, grows our economy, restores American energy dominance, brings back peace through strength, and makes government more efficient and more accountable to the American people,” said the statement from House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., and Republican Conference Chair Lisa McClain, R-Mich.
The House budget resolution orders the House Agriculture Committee to cut $230 billion in spending from fiscal years 2025 through 2034. SNAP makes up $1 trillion of the $1.3 trillion in spending that the committee oversees, making it a likely target for cuts. The House bill would cut more than 20% of the SNAP program, according to nonprofit research organization, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. The cuts could come from cutting SNAP benefits, restricting eligibility or both.
The Senate budget resolution directs a narrower cut to the Senate Agriculture Committee of $1 billion over the same time frame.
Meals on Wheels is keeping a close eye on the potential cuts to SNAP and Medicaid, said Renee Ruybal, chief advancement officer for Meals on Wheels New Mexico. Funding cuts could force the nonprofit to make some tough decisions, like reinstating a waitlist.
“Many of our seniors rely on SNAP for groceries and for essential services, including meal delivery. Medicaid is also an important part of how we plan to grow and serve more people in the future. So if these programs face more cuts, more New Mexicans will turn to us for help, but at a time when we have fewer resources to meet that growing need,” Ruybal said.
Democratic politicians have been rallying opposition to the budget resolution. In New Mexico, Sen. Ben Ray Luján and Stansbury both drew attention to potential SNAP cuts last week.
“They're going to cut Medicaid for millions of Americans, they're going to cut food assistance for millions of Americans, they're going to cut tax breaks for single parents, and they're going to cut life-saving programs that help millions of Americans survive so that they can give tax breaks to millionaires,” Stansbury said. “Now what I want to emphasize is that even though this is their evil plan, we can stop them.”
Stansbury said Republicans want to get the budget package to the president's desk in May or June.
Cathy Cook covers the federal government for the Albuquerque Journal. Reach her via email at .