Senator Murray Hears from Hunger Relief Organizations Across WA State About Challenges and Fears Amid Trump Cuts to USDA, Republicans Advancing Legislation to Cut SNAP By a[...]

ICYMI: Murray, Hayes, Levin Introduce Bill to Expand Summer EBT Program to School Breaks, Ensure Kids Don't Go Hungry When School is Closed During the Year

ICYMI: Senator Murray, WA Food Banks, and Farmers Lay Out How Trump's Cuts to Local Food Programs Will Hurt Families and Communities

***WATCH HERE***

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, held a virtual event with hunger relief organizations across Washington state to hear about the challenges they are facing amid recent steep cuts by the Trump administration to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs that provide funding for food banks and schools to purchase locally-produced food and looming draconian Republican cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which helps over 42 million people across the country purchase fresh produce and other groceries. Republicans' reconciliation legislation-which only requires a simple majority to pass in both the House and Senate-would cut SNAP by a staggering $300 billion, according to legislative text that was advanced by the House Agriculture Committee this week. Participating in the virtual event today were representatives from Food Lifeline, Washington Food Coalition, Second Harvest, Northwest Harvest, Harvest Against Hunger, Feeding the Northwest, EastWest Food Rescue, and the Anti-Hunger & Nutrition Coalition.

President Trump and Republicans' cuts to USDA and SNAP come as Washington state has been experiencing a notable rise in food insecurity in recent years. Data from the Washington State Department of Agriculture indicates that food bank visits rose from 10.9 million in 2023 to 13.3 million in 2024, with one in four Washingtonians utilizing food banks in 2024, up from one in five the previous year. Children are particularly affected by food insecurity in Washington state, with nearly 50 percent of students-approximately 538,000 children-qualifying for free or reduced-price school lunches.

"If we needed any more proof Trump is still trying to take food off the shelves at food banks, and off families' dinner tables, all you need to do is look at the bill Republicans are marking up right now, which includes the biggest SNAP cut in history-$230 billion over the next decade. We should not be cutting off food assistance so Trump can cut his fellow billionaires a massive check," Senator Murray said on the call today. "These cuts won't make things more efficient, they won't solve any problems. They just take food away from people who need it most. Investing in nutrition assistance? Investing in SNAP? That's an investment in people."

"My family relied on food stamps briefly when I was a kid-our country had our back, and all seven of us kids grew up to give back to our communities in different ways," Murray continued. "As you all know, Washington state has one of the strongest, most inclusive SNAP programs in the country. So you can bet I am going to continue to be one of its strongest champions in Congress. I am not going to stand by while Republicans push families off this program and slash it to ribbons, and I am not going to be quiet as they take food from our kids."

In March, the Trump administration inexplicably ripped away more than $660 million in funding for the Local Food for Schools Program (LFS)-which schools and child care facilities in Washington state use to purchase berries, meat, seafood, and more from local farmers and producers-as well as $500 million from the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program (LFPA) and $500 million from The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), which helps food banks buy nutritious food from local farms for the communities they serve. According to an updated estimate based on data provided by USDA, Washington state is set to lose nearly $12 million in federal funding it was set to receive from these programs this year alone-a $2.9 million cut to LFS, $3.9 million cut to LFPA, and $4.7 million cut to TEFAP-and the Trump administration's cuts have left schools and food banks scrambling to fill the gap. Last month, Senator Murray held a virtual press conference with local food banks in Washington state raising the alarm over the Trump administration's senseless cuts to these programs.

"Food Lifeline is deeply concerned about the proposed cuts to SNAP. Already, Washington's hunger relief community is overwhelmed with demand. Demand that exceeds what we experienced during the pandemic. Unlike then, the Trump Administration, newly controlled Congress, and USDA, aren't coming to help. SNAP, the first line of defense against hunger, it must be strengthened, not diminished," said Aaron Czyzewski, Director of Advocacy & Public Policy at Food Lifeline.

"The Washington Food Coalition supports our state's network of food banks and pantries, which are facing unprecedented demand as food insecurity is on the rise. SNAP is the first and best defense against hunger, but the proposed House cuts would do lasting damage to families and communities and overwhelm our food banks," said Trish Twomey, Executive Director of the Washington Food Coalition.

"At EastWest Food Rescue, we see every day how layered and fragile our food system truly is, from farmers facing uncertainty to families struggling with hunger. We are deeply grateful to Senator Murray for taking the time to prioritize this complex issue and for recognizing that real solutions require collaboration across sectors. Her leadership brings hope to those working at every level of the food chain," Monika Whitfield, Executive Director of EastWest Food Rescue.

"The proposed federal cuts to SNAP and food bank funding would have devastating consequences for Washington families already struggling to put food on the table. At a time when food insecurity remains at alarming levels across our state, our elected representation needs to strengthen our hunger relief systems, not dismantle them. We're grateful for Senator Murray's steadfast leadership and commitment to protecting these vital programs that serve as a lifeline for so many in our communities. Today's summit highlights the critical importance of federal support in our collective fight against hunger, and we stand ready to work alongside Senator Murray and our partners to ensure no Washingtonian has to wonder where their next meal will come from," said Jamielyn Wheeler, Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives at Northwest Harvest.

Having relied on food stamps for a brief time during her childhood, Senator Murray knows firsthand the difference a helping hand can make in the lives of children, and as Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Murray is working around the clock to protect vital nutrition assistance and child nutrition programs. Senator Murray was the leading Congressional champion in the more than decade-long fight to reduce child summer hunger by providing families whose children are eligible for free and reduced-price school meals with an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card to buy groceries over the summer-a policy knows as "Summer EBT." During the academic year, more than 30 million kids from low-income families rely on free or reduced-priced meals they receive at school-but when school lets out for the summer, those kids lose access to regular meals and frequently go hungry. Senator Murray first introduced legislation to establish a permanent Summer EBT program in 2014, helped to secure and extend the Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) program that provided summer grocery benefits to families during the COVID-19 public health emergency in 2020, 2021, and 2022, and ultimately helped negotiate and pass a permanent Summer EBT program-based on her original Stop Child Summer Hunger Act-as part of the omnibus government funding bill that was signed into law in December 2022. The Summer EBT program officially launched in 2024, with 37 states participating, including Washington state. Nearly 600,000 children in Washington state received Summer EBT-also known as SUN Bucks-last summer.

Just last week, Senator Murray introduced bicameral legislation to expand the Summer EBT program to include periods when schools are closed or operating remotely for five or more consecutive weekdays-including winter break, spring break, and other prolonged school closures-and provide funding for new implementation grants to help states implement the Summer EBT program more effectively.

Senator Murray's full remarks, as delivered, are available below and HERE:

"It's so good to see you all. I know this is not an easy moment-not for Washington state families, and not for all of you. You all are on the frontlines serving people in our communities, keeping them fed when times are tough. And that has been especially crucial in recent years.

"A quarter of people in Washington state used a food bank last year and visits have jumped to 13 million a year. But despite the crucial role you play serving our communities you all have unfortunately had a front row seat to a lot of pointless, lawless chaos President Trump has caused.

"I know this has turned your work upside down; grants being frozen, cancelled, and unfrozen; tariffs being throttled and reversed; and the threat of painful cuts in just about every proposal Republicans put forward. I have visited food banks, and heard from families and from some of you, about how this has already been incredibly harmful. I am listening-and more than that I am fighting for you. My goal is to lift your stories up, put a spotlight on these problems, and get these disastrous policies reversed.

"We have seen a few times now that when we push back hard, when we speak up loud, when we name and shame the harms that Trump is causing we can get them to back down, and reverse course-at least while the pressure stays on. Some grants have gotten moving again. Some cuts and firings are being reversed. Tariffs are being walked back a little, though Trump is still committed to an expensive trade war.

"But the fight is not over. Not by a long shot, because for every small retreat, we have seen Trump launch another devastating attack on our social safety net. If we needed any more proof Trump is still trying to take food off the shelves at food banks and off families' dinner tables all you need to do is look at the bill Republicans are marking up right now, which includes the biggest SNAP cut in history-$230 billion over the next decade. We should not be cutting off food assistance so Trump can cut his fellow billionaires a massive check.

"These cuts won't make things more efficient. They won't solve any problems. They just take food away from people who need it most. Investing in nutrition assistance? Investing in SNAP? That's an investment in people. My family relied on food stamps briefly when I was a kid. Our country had our back, and all seven of us kids grew up to give back to our communities in different ways.

"This shouldn't even need saying, but if Republicans won't listen to common sense and common decency, then we are going to get a megaphone and shout it from the roof tops: 'Hands off SNAP!'

"As you all know, Washington state has one of the strongest, most inclusive SNAP programs in the country. So you can bet I am going to continue to be one of its strongest champions in Congress. I am not going to stand by while Republicans push families off this program and slash it to ribbons. I am not going to be quiet as they take food from our kids' mouths. I am standing up. I am getting loud. And I am making your voices heard.

"We are going to fight for SNAP and for our families."

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