Senator Merkley Blasts Trump Administration's SNAP Cuts Ahead of Thanksgiving

Impact of SNAP Cuts on Families

• 🦃 Senator Jeff Merkley highlights that many American families will face bare Thanksgiving tables due to the Trump administration's policies.
• 💡 Oregon and Louisiana are among the states with the highest SNAP participation, making them acutely aware of the program's impact.
• 💔 Merkley shares a personal anecdote from his high school food drive, illustrating the desperation of a woman who had to donate cans she just received from a food bank.

Trump Administration's "Make America Hungry Again" Agenda

• 📉 The administration is accused of pursuing a philosophy of "the red carpet for the rich and the red tape for the poor."
• 🚫 Actions cited include freezing funding for SNAP and Meals on Wheels in January, slashing farm to school lunch programs in March, implementing cost-raising tariffs in April, cutting SNAP by almost $200 billion in July, and illegally refusing to fund SNAP benefits in November.
• 💰 These cuts are framed as funding tax breaks for billionaires, contrasting with the needs of vulnerable families.

Legislative Action to Combat Hunger

• ✅ Senator Merkley supports a bill aimed at restoring SNAP cuts and combating hunger across America.
• 🤝 The bill is presented as a direct response to the "Great Gatsby parties for the rich and bare Thanksgiving tables for vulnerable, struggling families."
• 📣 Merkley calls for widespread support, urging all senators and House members to sign on to make the bill a reality.