Title
Condemning Congressional Republicans and the Trump Administration for their dramatic, ill-advised, and harmful cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Body
WHEREAS, For over 60 years, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as Food Stamps or Food Assistance, has been a critical income support program for low-income Philadelphians; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 500,000 Philadelphians, one-third of our City's residents, receive SNAP benefits; and
WHEREAS, Two-thirds of SNAP recipients are children, seniors over age 60, and people with disabilities; and
WHEREAS, A robust body of scientific research has shown that SNAP benefits improve health outcomes, increase access to healthy food, reduce health care costs, stimulate the economy, and help communities recover from natural disasters; and
WHEREAS, Congressional Republicans passed, and President Trump signed H.R. 1 on July 4, 2025; and
WHEREAS, H.R. 1 includes the most dramatic cuts to SNAP in the program's history; and
WHEREAS, Because of H.R. 1, many Philadelphians receiving SNAP will be subject to harsh time limits that cut off their benefits after 3 months if they cannot meet burdensome paperwork requirements to verify that they are working; and
WHEREAS, H.R. 1 expands the reach of that 3-month time limit to parents and grandparents raising children older than 14 years old, and seniors ages 55 to 64. It prevents Pennsylvania from seeking a waiver from the requirement for Philadelphia on account of our City's elevated unemployment rate; and
WHEREAS, As a result, an estimated 45,000 Philadelphians are at risk of losing their SNAP because of these policy changes; and
WHEREAS, For most of SNAP's history, the federal government picked up the bill for all benefits and 75 percent of state's costs to administer the program. H.R. 1 significantly shifts the cost of SNAP onto states; and
WHEREAS, According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Pennsylva...
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