Congressman Panetta Statement on the Administration’s Latest Cut to CalFresh Benefits

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley) released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that the administration will increase requirements for hungry Americans using the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known as CalFresh in California, and weaken states' ability to provide food assistance in high-unemployment areas.

"The administration's decision will make it harder for the poorest and most vulnerable on the Central Coast and across the country to put food on the table. Since Congress overwhelmingly voted against this kind of policy in the 2018 Farm Bill, this administration has made multiple attempts to take away critical nutrition assistance from CalFresh recipients. USDA's mission is to ‘do right and feed everyone.' The administration's decision will make it harder to do that and properly address hunger in our communities."

Though the rule was published today, it does not go into effect until Spring 2020, and once efforts to prevent its implementation are exhausted. Currently, impacted individuals can continue using benefits as normal.