WASHINGTON, D.C. (Wisconsin News Connection / Public News Service) – Congress is back in session two more weeks before the August recess.

Wisconsin voices worried about the future of a key hunger relief program hope lawmakers protect its funding with a deadline looming.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – or SNAP – falls under the Farm Bill, which needs to be reauthorized by the end of September.

Federal lawmakers are again facing a deadline for a long-term re-authorization of the Farm Bill, which funds a key food assistance program. Like past debates, Congress is arguing about limiting the scope of benefits, and those advocating for low-income Wisconsinites say such a move would come at the worst possible time.

House Republicans have blocked efforts to maintain White House authority to make non-inflation adjustments to SNAP benefits – a move President Joe Biden made in 2021 when he carried out a record increase.

Meghan Roh, program director of the group Opportunity Wisconsin, said not having that option would put recipients at a disadvantage.

“SNAP benefits help over 700,000 Wisconsinites afford food, which is one in eight people in our state,” said Roh. “And so, gutting this assistance would mean that these families have to make difficult choices.”

The Congressional Budget Office says removing the provision would limit the scope of future SNAP increases by $30 billion. Advocates say that amounts to a large cut.

Wisconsin U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Prairie du Chien, was called out for a recent committee vote to keep the option shelved.

In a social media post, he accused Democrats of lying when saying the panel was cutting benefits.

Other Republicans say their approach protects SNAP in the event a future GOP president would want to unilaterally reduce benefits.

But Suzanne Becker, executive director of the Feed My People Food Bank in Eau Claire, said politics shouldn’t come into play. She argued that elevating SNAP levels as much as possible is a wise move.

“We can never replace the impact that SNAP has on our neighbors,” said Becker. “Nonprofits can’t do that. We make a difference every day. We strive to, but this is a critical piece in making sure that all Americans have what they need.”

Becker said the debate comes as her location sees a lot of demand among working families. Her team works with income-eligible clients to sign up for SNAP benefits, noting that it’s a lifeline for older populations.

Disclosure: Opportunity Wisconsin contributes to Public News Service’s fund for reporting on Budget Policy & Priorities, Civic Engagement, Livable Wages/Working Families. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.

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