Governor Josh Stein has taken the lead in a coalition of 23 governors urging Congressional leaders to maintain support for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This initiative aims to protect the food security of millions across the United States.
“SNAP has impacts far beyond the people who receive its benefits. It improves overall health, helps rural grocery stores stay open, and maintains our thriving agriculture industry,” stated Governor Stein. He emphasized the importance of rejecting proposals that could jeopardize public health and well-being.
Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai highlighted potential risks associated with proposed changes to SNAP funding, noting, “A shift of this scale in SNAP costs to states and counties, coupled with the proposed devastating cuts to Medicaid, pose a serious threat to the health and well-being of millions of North Carolinians.”
The letter from the governors warns that current congressional proposals threaten SNAP’s ability to address hunger and improve health outcomes. The program provides essential food benefits to over 42 million Americans, including more than 1.4 million residents in North Carolina alone.
Currently, the federal government covers all food benefit costs and half of administrative expenses for state SNAP programs. However, new proposals could transfer up to 25% of these costs onto states. This unprecedented shift could cost North Carolina up to $700 million annually, potentially forcing cuts in other critical areas like education or healthcare.
SNAP is vital as it provides nine meals for every one meal a food bank can supply. With ongoing high grocery prices, food banks are already strained and cannot replace a comprehensive federal nutrition program. A family of four may receive up to $975 monthly in food benefits through SNAP, with each dollar spent generating $1.80 in local economic activity.
According to the National Grocers Association, SNAP supports thousands of jobs across various sectors such as agriculture and transportation while driving significant economic growth within North Carolina. Any reduction in federal support would have direct negative impacts on local economies.
As a federally managed program with strict eligibility criteria, states have limited flexibility in managing SNAP enrollment numbers. Economic downturns or natural disasters can quickly increase demand for assistance. Following Hurricane Helene’s devastation, Disaster-SNAP became crucial for affected families—recording its highest application numbers since Hurricane Florence in 2018.
