By Rep. Emily Kinkead 

As a state lawmaker working to reduce food insecurity in the Commonwealth, I am devastated to see members of Congress supporting a $230 billion cut to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding in the federal budget resolution that passed the U.S. House in February. Serving as Pennsylvania House chair of the Legislative Hunger Caucus for several years, I have met many families and individuals facing hunger and seen firsthand just how crucial SNAP funding is for over two million Pennsylvanians. Despite the incredible work of food banks, mutual aid organizations, and anti-hunger advocates, far too many Pennsylvanians still struggle to put food on the table. SNAP provides critical assistance to low-income families, helping them afford groceries and maintain a basic standard of nutrition. That is why I am fighting against these monstrous cuts and will continue supporting policies that help ensure everyone can access nutritious meals.

During the pandemic, funding increased temporarily for public food programs like SNAP — and hunger rates decreased! More people are facing food insecurity now than during the pandemic. So, we already know that one of the most effective ways to combat food insecurity is by strengthening SNAP funding. However, with the cuts proposed in the federal budget resolution, this lifeline is under a massive threat.

In March, I participated in the SNAP challenge, an opportunity to get a glimpse into what life is like relying on SNAP by spending the average SNAP benefit of only $6 per day on food for an individual. Over the course of five days, I learned that while a person might be able to put three meals a day together with that amount, what you can afford is significantly less nutritious, more ultra-processed, and unlikely to provide the balanced diet necessary to keep people healthy. Also, because of my limited budget, I could not take advantage of social opportunities that help so many of us to decompress after a stressful day at work — activities that we know are equally essential in keeping people healthy. And, by the end of the week, I had developed a cold that I had the benefit of recovering from more quickly because I had the privilege of being able to return to a higher quality, more nutritious diet while also being able to take time to rest. If I were a shift worker surviving on $6/ day without the benefit of paid time off, who knows how long I would have had to muscle through before I got back to 100%?

And if the proposed $230 billion SNAP cut is enacted at the federal level, it’s estimated that the average daily benefit would drop to just $4 per day. Let’s be clear: slashing SNAP at this level would be devastating to people who are already struggling to get by.

Cutting SNAP would disproportionately harm our most vulnerable neighbors — children, seniors, and people with disabilities. It would force working families who have been battling rising costs to make impossible choices. And it would put an enormous strain on state and local resources as we try to compensate for federal disinvestment in basic human needs. As lawmakers and public servants, our responsibility should be to strengthen the safety net, not tear it apart.

With the proposed cuts at the federal level, it’s important for us to take action at the state level to bolster food resources in the Commonwealth — especially for our kids. That’s why I’ve introduced two bills aimed at tackling food insecurity in Pennsylvania schools.

The first is a universal school meals bill, which would guarantee that every student in Pennsylvania has access to breakfast and lunch, regardless of their family’s income. Our state budget has provided breakfast to all students for the last two years, but we have failed to take the next, more significant step and guarantee lunch as well. We saw during the pandemic how transformative universal school meals can be. When school meals were free for all, we eliminated the stigma associated with receiving free or reduced-price lunch, boosted student participation, and ensured no child went hungry during the school day. Now, we have the opportunity to make that a permanent reality. By investing in universal school meals, we can improve the health of our children, support academic success, and ease the rising cost of groceries for working families.

The second bill I’ve introduced would eliminate school lunch debt statewide. No child should be punished or shamed because their family is struggling financially. Yet, in too many schools, students are denied meals, given alternative lunches, or subjected to embarrassing public notices when they owe money for food. This is cruel and counterproductive. By eliminating school lunch debt, we can ensure that every child is treated with dignity and given the nourishment they need to thrive. Schools are places of learning, not collections agencies.

The fight against food insecurity is not just about policy — it’s about values. It’s about recognizing no one in the wealthiest nation on Earth should go hungry. It’s about acknowledging that when we invest in programs like SNAP and universal school meals, we are investing in healthier communities, stronger families, and a brighter future for our children.

I urge my colleagues at every level of government to join me in this fight. We must protect and expand SNAP, fully fund universal school meals, and take more significant strides to end hunger in Pennsylvania. The solutions are within our reach. Now, we just need the political will to make them a reality.

If you know someone who is struggling with food insecurity, have them reach out to my office and we will be happy to help them identify and sign up for any state services for which they may qualify. They can call (412) 321-5523 or email RepKinkead@pahouse.net., or stop by my district office, located at 658 Lincoln Ave. in Bellevue.