Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Slam Trump Administration’s Attacks on Senior Nutrition Programs

"The cuts will exacerbate hunger, poor health, and social isolation"

Washington D.C.-U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, both D-Ore, said today they have joined fellow Senate leaders to call on Republicans to reconsider disastrous cuts and attacks on programs and agencies that support seniors with food assistance among other necessities.

"We are writing today to express our serious concerns regarding efforts by the Trump administration and the potential of cuts proposed in your budget resolution to debilitate our nation's beloved nutrition programs for seniors, taking hot meals, sustenance, and social interaction away from our seniors to fund tax cuts for billionaires," the lawmakers wrote to Senate Republicans. "These attacks are multifaceted and will deeply hurt all aspects of senior nutrition services, from funding to program delivery. The cuts will exacerbate hunger, poor health, and social isolation, and our nation's seniors will be gravely harmed by these decisions."

If implemented, the Republicans' proposed cuts will take hot meals, nutritious food, and social interaction away from millions of older adults nationwide, jeopardizing their health and quality of life.

Specifically, the senators urged Republicans to reconsider the following actions:

• Cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which is the largest food assistance program in the country;
• The dismantling of the Administration for Community Living, which administers the Older Americans Act's nutrition programs;
• The elimination of the Social Services Block Grant, which provides critical funding for senior nutrition programs;
• Cuts to Medicaid, which funds meal-delivery programs through Section 1115 waivers for home-bound older adults and people with disabilities; and
• Attacks on the Social Security Administration, which ensures accurate and timely payment of Social Security benefits so older adults and people with disabilities can put food on the table.

The letter was led by U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y. Along with Wyden and Merkley, the letter was also signed by U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. The senators wrote in their capacities as ranking members of the Senate Committees on Aging; Finance; Budget; Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions; Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry; and as Senate Democratic Leader, respectively.

The full text of the letter is here.

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