By Lizabethe Kronyakm NACDD Policy Intern
The Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024 (Farm Bill) was introduced by Congressman Glenn “GT” Thompson, Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture. Embedded within this bill is a significant reduction in funding for the Thrifty Foods Plan (TFP), which supports the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). It is estimated that SNAP will face a $30 billion budget cut over the next decade, leading to a decline in benefits for individuals over that period. Additionally, the bill would allow states to use private companies to conduct eligibility checks, which have been shown to result in more errors.
Food security is an issue for people with disabilities, especially those who are Medicaid beneficiaries. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), in 2021, approximately 28% of households reporting food insecurity had at least one person in the household unable to work due to a disability. Non-working disabled individuals are three times more likely to be food insecure compared to nondisabled adults. Also, USDA also reports that 10% of non-elderly SNAP participants are people with disabilities. SNAP is a powerful food safety net program with many positive public health impacts including reducing poverty, health care expenditures, the risk of chronic diseases later in life, and meeting dietary needs for people with disabilities.
NACDD opposes cuts to SNAP in the farm bill. Congress should look to improve SNAP rather than putting vulnerable populations at risk of receiving critical food assistance. For more information and ways to get involved to strengthen SNAP and oppose the farm bill, you can go to the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) website where you can also use their app to send a message to your members of Congress.
