Rep. Angie Craig Slams Veteran Cuts in 'Big Beautiful Bill'

Opposition to the 'Big Ugly Bill'

• 📉 The bill is characterized as having nearly $200 billion in cuts to food assistance, with 17 million Americans potentially losing health insurance or healthcare access.
• 🎯 The American people, as indicated by a Fox News poll, oppose the bill, with 59% of voters against it.
• 💸 Instead of reducing waste, fraud, and abuse, the bill provides tax breaks to the wealthy and funds them by cutting food and healthcare for vulnerable populations.

Fiscal and Economic Impacts

• 📈 The bill is claimed to add nearly $4 trillion to the national debt, contradicting claims of fiscal responsibility.
• 💰 It is argued that the bill will not lower the cost of living but will make basic needs like groceries and medical care more expensive, potentially raising healthcare costs for everyone.
• 🏘️ The bill pushes billions in new expenses onto state and county governments, forcing difficult choices between cutting food assistance, slashing local services, or raising taxes.
• 📊 In Minnesota, the Association of Minnesota Counties projects property taxes could rise by an average of over 5% to cover SNAP cuts.

Impact on Vulnerable Populations

• 🧑‍🌾 The bill is criticized for selling out farmers and the families they feed, and for cutting hundreds of billions from SNAP, the anti-hunger program.
• 💔 It is stated that the bill takes $6 a day from seniors, veterans, children, and people with disabilities to benefit billionaires.
• 💊 Seniors may be forced to choose between meals and medicine due to these cuts.

Specific Concerns for Veterans and Foster Youth

• 🎖️ The bill's impact on veterans' nutrition benefits is highlighted, with concerns that it mirrors cuts in the Senate version.
• ⚠️ One in three working-age veterans with disabilities are food insecure, and one in four who can't find work are also food insecure.
• 🥣 Veterans cannot live on symbolic support; they need tangible assistance, as they "can't eat thoughts and prayers."
• 🏠 Former foster youth leaving the system are also at risk of losing food assistance without the support systems many others have.

Final Condemnation

• 🗳️ The bill is described as a disgrace that has become even worse, and a significant political mistake for anyone who votes for it.
• 🚫 It is asserted that the bill does not save money, adds to the debt, and will negatively impact millions of Americans.