Congresswoman Brown Votes Against GOP Bill to Deny SNAP Benefits to Millions

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11), Vice Ranking Member of the House Agriculture Committee voted against Republican Reconciliation Bill following two days of debate in the Agriculture Committee. According to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the legislation would cut funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by approximately $300 billion, the largest cuts in the history of the program. 

 

According to analysis from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, over 50,000 people in OH-11, and over 450,000 Ohioans overall, would be at risk of losing a portion or all of their SNAP benefits under the GOP legislation. Nationwide, 11 million people would be at risk of losing benefits.  

 

The Republican legislation includes new work requirements for SNAP eligibility, including for parents with children over the age of six. During committee markup, Brown offered an amendment to strike this provision, which was voted down by Committee Republicans.  

 

“This legislation takes from the poor to give to the rich. Cutting SNAP for billionaire tax cuts is not fiscally responsible, it’s doesn’t encourage self-sufficiency, and it doesn’t help our economy – it just punishes people who are already struggling. SNAP is a lifeline for Northeast Ohio: it keeps food in the pantry for one in five households in my district, households that are like the one I grew up in. I voted against this legislation in committee and will continue to oppose it should it come to the House floor,” said Congresswoman Shontel Brown.  

 

During consideration of the bill, Vice Ranking Member Brown spoke on her own experience relying on SNAP as a child. On Tuesday evening, she also spoke out against the bill, calling it a “reverse Robin Hood” scheme and referencing Biblical calls to help those in need.  

 

According to the USDA, 21% of households in OH-11 rely on SNAP benefits, including 31% of Black households. For official statistics on SNAP in OH-11 from the USDA, click here. To explore other congressional district data, click here.