>>> NOW TURNING TO AN ISSUE THAT AFFECTS PEOPLE ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

ACCESS TO FOOD STAMPS.

ASSISTANCE PROGRAM OR SNAP BENEFITS ARE A VITAL LIFELINE FOR MANY LOW-INCOME FAMILIES HELPING THEM GET THE GROCERIES THEY NEED TO FEED THEIR HOUSEHOLDS.

NOW MILLIONS HAVE LOST THAT LIFELINE AND AT A TIME WHERE CONSUMERS ARE STRUGGLING WITH THE RISING PRICE OF NECESSITIES LIKE FOOD AND FUEL.

IT'S JUST THE LATEST CUTBACK RESULTING FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP'S SO-CALLED BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL ACT.

A PROFESSOR AT HARVARD JOINS US TO BREAK DOWN WHAT THIS MEANS.

>> THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

JUST RECENTLY, THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF HEADLINES ABOUT PEOPLE LOSING SNAP BENEFITS.

I GUESS TO SET THE TABLE FOR OUR AUDIENCE A LITTLE BIT, HOW SIGNIFICANT ARE THE CHANGES, AND HOW DO SNAP BENEFITS WORK IN THE UNITED STATES?

>> YEAH.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE.

SO THE CHANGES ARE VERY SIGNIFICANT.

MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO LOSE ACCESS TO SNAP BENEFITS.

AND BEFORE TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE CHANGES, JUST WANT TO SET THE TABLE ON HOW IMPORTANT THIS PROGRAM IS.

THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, IT USED TO BE CALLED FOOD STAMPS, IT'S THE NATION'S LARGEST ANTI-HUNGER PROGRAM.

IT SERVES ABOUT 42 MILLION INDIVIDUALS A MONTH, THAT'S ABOUT ONE IN EIGHT AMERICANS.

NOW 70% OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE CHILDREN, OLDER ADULTS, OR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

AND THE VAST MAJORITY OF FAMILIES THAT PARTICIPATE IN SNAP HAVE INCOMES BELOW THE POVERTY LINE, WHICH IS ABOUT $33,000 FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR.

AND THERE'S TONS OF EVIDENCE WHICH SHOWS THAT SNAP HAS POSITIVE IMPACTS ON THE ECONOMY AND IT HAS POSITIVE IMPACTS ON INDIVIDUALS.

SO WHEN IT COMES TO THE ECONOMY, SNAP HELPS TO STABILIZE IT BECAUSE IT'S DESIGNED TO BE COUNTER- CYCLICAL.

THAT MEANS AS THE ECONOMY WORSENS, ENROLLMENT GOES UP, AND AS THE ECONOMY IMPROVES, ENROLLMENT GOES DOWN.

AND IT'S BEEN VERY EFFECTIVE AT THAT DURING THE GREAT RECESSION, DURING COVID.

WE ALSO KNOW THAT FOR LOCAL ECONOMIES, SNAP IS VERY EFFECTIVE.

SO FOR EVERY DOLLAR IN SNAP BENEFITS THAT GENERATES ABOUT $1.50 TO $1.80 IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY.

FOR INDIVIDUALS, SNAP DOES A LOT OF REALLY IMPORTANT THINGS.

IT HELPS TO LIFT FAMILIES OUT OF POVERTY BECAUSE IT PROVIDES MONTHLY MONEY FOR FOOD, SO THEN FAMILIES CAN FREE UP SOME OF THEIR INCOME FOR OTHER THINGS THEY NEED LIKE RENT AND UTILITIES.

IT ALSO HELPS TO REDUCE FOOD INSECURITY BY ABOUT 30% AND IMPROVES HEALTH AND WELL BEING.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE ANNUAL MEDICAL COSTS FOR A SNAP PARTICIPANT ARE ABOUT 25% LOWER THAN SOMEONE WHO'S ELIGIBLE FOR THE PROGRAM BUT NOT PARTICIPATING.

>> WHAT ARE THE RATIONALES BEING OFFERED?

THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE TEMPORARY, THERE ISN'T ANY INCENTIVE FOR THEM TO GET OFF OF SNAP, START WORKING, BE ON THEIR OWN ANYMORE.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT THINKING?

>> SNAP HAS VERY CLEAR REQUIREMENTS, WHICH IS BASED ON OUR INCOME.

IT'S BASED ON YOUR ASSETS.

FAMILIES QUALIFY BECAUSE THEY FALL INTO A CATEGORY THAT SUGGESTS THEY HAVE NEED FOR IT'S ALSO THE CASE WHILE COVID HAS ENDED IN A LOT OF THE TEMPORARY PROGRAMS THAT WERE IN PLACE DURING COVID HAVE ENDED, FOOD PRICES REMAIN HIGH.

THEY'RE ABOUT 30% HIGHER THAN THEY WERE THREE YEARS AGO.

SO FAMILIES ON THE PROGRAM ARE REALLY STRUGGLING.

IN FACT, THERE WAS A STUDY THAT WAS DONE WHICH FOUND IF YOU LOOK AT THE SNAP BENEFIT, WHICH IS ABOUT $180 PER PERSON PER MONTH, THAT'S ABOUT $6 A DAY.

WHAT THE ANALYSIS SHOWS IS THAT IT IS ONLY SUFFICIENT TO BUY A MODERATELY PRICED MEAL IN 1% OF U.S.

COUNTIES, WHICH MEANS THAT IN 99% OF U.S.

COUNTIES, THE BENEFIT IS NOT ADEQUATE.

>> I WONDER ALSO ABOUT THE COST OF LIVING RIGHT NOW IS SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT.

OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, FOOD PRICES ARE UP, AND THAT'S WHAT SNAP TARGETS.

BUT YOU LOOK AT YOUR OVERALL ACCOUNT BECAUSE OF ALL THE OTHER COSTS YOU HAVE, SO IT SEEMS LIKE THIS AMOUNT THAT YOU WOULD GET PER MONTH ISN'T NECESSARILY SOMETHING THAT FLEXES AND SHRINKS RELATIVE TO THE OTHER COSTS THAT MIGHT BE ADDING UP.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT, ONE OF THE REASONS THAT SNAP BENEFITS HAVE BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL IS THAT THEY'RE VERY STEADY.

SO IF YOU'RE RECEIVING THESE BENEFITS, THAT'S FREEING UP YOUR RESOURCES FOR ALL THESE OTHER COSTS THAT ARE INCREASING.

THE OTHER THING THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT IT IS NOT THE CASE THAT THE CHARITABLE FOOD SECTOR CAN COME IN AND FIX ALL THIS.

YOU MIGHT REMEMBER DURING COVID THE LONG LINES WE SAW AT FOOD BANKS AND FOOD PANTRIES.

WHILE THEY'RE SO IMPORTANT FOR HELPING FAMILIES, THEY ONLY COVER ABOUT ONE MEAL OUT OF NINE THAT SNAP PROVIDES.

SO AS FAMILIES ARE LOSING ACCESS TO THE PROGRAM BECAUSE OF THE CHANGES THROUGH HR-1, THERE'S NOT AS IF THERE ARE OTHER PARTS OF THE CHARITABLE FOOD SYSTEM THAT CAN STEP IN AND REALLY MAKE FAMILIES WHOLE AGAIN.

>> LET'S GO THROUGH SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT PEOPLE ARE HEARING ABOUT.

I GUESS THE FIRST IS THE REALLY LARGE SCALE, THE $187 BILLION IN FUNDING.

PUT THAT IN PERSPECTIVE FOR >> YEAH.

SO THE LAW PASSED IN JULY OF 2025, AND IT MAKES MAJOR STRUCTURAL CHANGES, AND THOSE STRUCTURAL CHANGES ARE GOING TO MEAN THAT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE LOSE COVERAGE.

YOU MENTIONED THE CUT TO OVERALL, THE OVERALL SIZE OF THE PROGRAM.

SO WHAT WILL HAPPEN OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS, SO BETWEEN NOW AND 2034, IS THAT THE OVERALL SIZE OF THE SNAP PROGRAM WILL GO DOWN BY $187 BILLION.

THAT IS A 20% CUT, AND IT'S THE LARGEST CUT IN THE PROGRAM'S HISTORY.

THAT'S ONE BIG STRUCTURAL CHANGE.

ANOTHER BIG STRUCTURAL CHANGE, THE LAW IS EXPANDING THE NUMBER OF ADULTS THAT ARE SUBJECT TO WHAT ARE CALLED THREE-MONTH TIME LIMITS.

AND THAT MEANS YOU CAN ONLY RECEIVE SNAP FOR THREE MONTHS WITHIN THREE YEARS UNLESS YOU WORK FOR 20 HOURS A WEEK OR 80 HOURS A MONTH.

SO THOSE NEW RULES ARE GOING TO APPLY TO A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT GROUPS.

IT WILL APPLY TO ADULTS THAT ARE AGES 55-64, AND THEY DON'T HAVE DEPENDENTS.

AND IT USED TO BE 18-54, SO IT'S EXPANDED THAT GROUP IT'S GOING TO APPLY TO CAREGIVERS OR PARENTS THAT HAVE CHILDREN THAT ARE AGE 14 OR OLDER.

IT USED TO BE AGE 18.

THEN PREVIOUSLY EXEMPT GROUPS ARE BEING PULLED IN.

VETERANS, PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, AND YOUTH AGING OUT OF FOSTER CARE.

TO MAKE THAT MORE CONCRETE, TAKE A SINGLE MOM.

SHE HAS A 15-YEAR-OLD CHILD AND SHE'S WORKING PART TIME TO TAKE CARE OF HER CHILD AND SHE LOSES HER ELIGIBILITY.

HER FAMILY'S OVERALL MONTHLY SNAP ASSISTANCE WILL GO FROM $546 A MONTH TO $298 A MONTH.

SO THAT'S A HUGE SHIFT FOR A FAMILY.

AND THEN THE THIRD THING THAT'S HAPPENING IS THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A BIG SHIFT IN THE COST OF THE PROGRAM TOWARD THE STATES.

AND SO HISTORICALLY, SNAP AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAD SPLIT THE ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS OF THE PROGRAM.

THAT'S A SMALLER AMOUNT OF THE OVERALL PIE OF THE PROGRAM.

NOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN FISCAL YEAR 2027 OR THIS OCTOBER IS THAT STATES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR 75% OF ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.

THAT'S MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT STATES WILL HAVE TO START PAYING.

THE BIGGER CHANGE FOR STATES IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, FISCAL YEAR '28.

STATES WILL HAVE TO PAY A SHARE OF THE SNAP BENEFITS AND THAT'S GOING TO RANGE FROM 5% TO 15% BASED ON THEIR PAYMENT ERROR RATES.

WHAT PAYMENT ERROR RATES REFER TO IS THE AMOUNT A FAMILY IS UNDER OR OVERPAID FOR THEIR SNAP BENEFIT.

THIS IS WHERE STATES COULD FACE HUGE, HUGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY.

JUST TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, IF A STATE HAS AN ERROR RATE OVER 10%, THEY WILL HAVE TO PAY 15% OF BENEFITS WHEN THIS GOES INTO EFFECT.

IT'S HUGE.

SO IN FISCAL YEAR '24, NORTH CAROLINA'S ERROR RATE WAS 10.2%.

THE STATE RECEIVED $2.9 IN ANNUAL SNAP BENEFITS FOR PEOPLE IN THE STATE.

BASED ON THIS NEW PENALTY, NORTH CAROLINA WOULD OWE $440 MILLION.

SCRAMBLING TO TRY TO WORK ON THEIR PAYMENT ERROR RATES RIGHT NOW.

>> SO IF YOU SUDDENLY HAVE A NEW PAYMENT, IF YOU'RE A STATE, OF $440 MILLION THAT YOU DIDN'T PLAN FOR, WHAT ARE YOUR OPTIONS?

I MEAN, COULD STATES JUST SAY YOU KNOW WHAT?

HOW ABOUT I JUST TURN SNAP OFF ALL TOGETHER?

>> THEY CAN.

THEY CAN.

AND IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN WHAT WILL HAPPEN, BUT YES, STATES COULD CHOOSE TO EXIT THE PROGRAM ENTIRELY.

WHICH WOULD LEAVE MILLIONS OF FAMILIES WITHOUT A LIFELINE FOR FOOD.

>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE LARGER TIMELINE HERE, WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THIS IS HAPPENING AT THIS JUNCTURE NOW?

I MEAN, WERE THERE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS, WERE THERE ANY KINDS OF FRAUD, WASTE, AND ABUSE?

WERE THERE RED FLAGS GOING UP THAT SAID SNAP NEEDS SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURAL REFORM, AND THESE SORTS OF CUTS ARE WHAT'S NECESSARY?

>> YEAH.

THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE SEPARATE FRAUD FROM PAYMENT ERROR.

SO FRAUD IS INTENTIONALLY TRYING TO REMOVE MONEY FROM THE PROGRAM.

AND ACTUALLY, FRAUD RATES IN SNAP ARE VERY LOW.

THEY'RE EVEN LOW RELATIVE TO OTHER SAFETY NET PROGRAMS THAT THE GOVERNMENT RUNS.

SO WHEN IT COMES TO FRAUD, SNAP IS DOING QUITE WELL.

SO ANOTHER QUESTION, WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH PAYMENT ERROR RATES AND WHY HAVE THEY GONE UP?

THEY HAVE GONE UP IN RECENT YEARS, BUT THE QUESTION IS WHY?

SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED DURING COVID IS THAT TEMPORARY MEASURES WERE PUT IN PLACE WITH THE GOAL OF HELPING FAMILIES TO MAINTAIN OR TO CREATE ACCESS TO SNAP BECAUSE THE GOAL WAS WE NEED TO CONTROL FOOD INSECURITY.

IF YOU REMEMBER, I MENTIONED WHEN THE GREAT RECESSION HAPPENED AND THERE WAS A BIG UPSWING OF THE PEOPLE ON SNAP, THERE WAS A BIG UPSWING OF FOOD INSECURITY.

WITH THE INCREASES THAT HAPPENED WITH THE ENROLLMENT INTO SNAP, FOOD INSECURITY WAS KEPT VERY STEADY AT ABOUT 10% DURING COVID, WHICH WAS A HUGE HOW POWERFUL THE PROGRAM COULD BE.

SO BASICALLY, THESE TEMPORARY CHANGES THAT WERE PUT IN PLACE BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WERE DESIGNED TO HELP STATES WITH THIS ENORMOUS CASE LOAD THEY WERE HAVING TO DEAL WITH.

STATES HAD A NUMBER OF OPTIONS.

MOST OF THEM TOOK ADVANTAGE OF ONE OF THE THREE OPTIONS SO THEY COULD WAIVE THE INTERVIEW REQUIREMENTS DURING THE APPLICATION OR RECERTIFICATION, THEY COULD EXTEND THE CERTIFICATION PERIOD, AND YOU CAN EVEN USE TELEPHONE SIGNATURES TO STREAMLINE REMOTE APPLICATION PROCESSING.

ONE THING THAT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW IS THAT THE PAYMENT ERROR RATES ARE REALLY REFLECTING UNINTENTIONAL MISTAKES MADE BY THE STATE AGENCY OR THE APPLICANTS.

THAT COULD INCLUDE YOU MAKE A MISCALCULATION OR THERE'S INCOMPLETE INFORMATION.

AGAIN, THE PRIORITY DURING COVID WAS TO KEEP THE FOOD ASSISTANCE FLOWING.

BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A REAL CHALLENGE FOR STATES TO ACTUALLY REIGN THESE PAYMENT ERROR RATES IN BY FISCAL YEAR 2028 IN PART BECAUSE THERE'S THIS COMPRESSED TIMELINE.

THERE'S BEEN THIS BIG REDUCTION IN FORCE BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, SO THERE ARE FEWER PEOPLE IN PLACE TO DO ALL OF THIS ADMINISTRATIVE WORK.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE SUPPORTING THESE CHANGES SAY IS IT SHOULDN'T BE THAT DIFFICULT FOR YOU TO DOCUMENT THAT YOU'RE WORKING 20 HOURS A WEEK.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT IDEA?

>> WELL, ONE THING THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO KNOW IS THERE IS A MISCONCEPTION THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE IN SNAP ARE NOT WORKING.

WHAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF LITERATURE SHOWS IS PEOPLE WHO CAN WORK, DO WORK.

AND SO WHAT THIS TIME LIMIT REQUIREMENT IS, WHICH AGAIN IS EXPANDING THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE TO RESPOND TO THIS STRICTER TIME LIMIT, AND IF THEY DON'T, THEY ONLY GET BENEFITS FOR THREE MONTHS OUT OF THREE YEARS.

IT'S REALLY JUST A PAPERWORK REQUIREMENT.

HERE'S WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN IN PRACTICE.

AGAIN, MOST PEOPLE WHO CAN WORK, DO WORK.

NOW YOU'RE SUBJECT TO THIS ADDITIONAL ROLE.

YOU HAVE TO PERSONALLY DOCUMENT YOU HAVE TO SUBMIT IT TO THE STATE AGENCY.

THE STATE AGENCY THEN HAS TO DOCUMENT THE FACT THAT YOU ARE STILL ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE BENEFITS.

SO IT'S CREATING A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF PAPERWORK, AND THERE'S NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE TO PROCESS ALL THIS PAPERWORK.

IT'S JUST GOING TO GUM UP THE SYSTEM.

>> WHAT ABOUT A POPULATION THAT MIGHT BE QUALIFYING WHO HAVE MIXED IMMIGRANT HOUSEHOLDS?

SO THE CHILD MIGHT BE BORN IN THE UNITED STATES, U.S.

CITIZEN, BUT MAYBE ONE OF THE PARENTS IS NOT.

I WONDER IF WHAT WE'VE BEEN LIVING THROUGH FOR THE LAST YEAR OR SO, THE INCREASED DEPORTATIONS, THE FOCUS ON I.C.E.

RAIDS IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, WHETHER THAT'S AFFECTING WHO WILL BOTHER TO REGISTER AND WHAT HAPPENS TO THE CHILD WHO'S ELIGIBLE FOR THE BENEFITS IN THE FIRST PLACE.

>> YEAH.

THAT'S AN EXCELLENT POINT.

SO IT IS DEFINITELY THE CASE THAT CONFUSION ABOUT WHO WAS ELIGIBLE FOR SNAP RIGHT NOW, PARTICULARLY AMONG MIXED IMMIGRANT HOUSEHOLDS IS VERY, VERY HIGH.

WE'VE SEEN THIS IN THE PAST.

WE'RE DEFINITELY SEEING IT NOW.

IT'S POSSIBLE INDIVIDUALS WHO COULD GET BENEFITS FOR THEIR CHILDREN BUT NOT FOR THEMSELVES ARE OPTING NOT TO APPLY BECAUSE THERE'S FEAR IT WILL IMPACT IMMIGRATION STATUS.

THERE'S CONFUSION FOR WHO AND WHO IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR SNAP BENEFITS.

>> OFTENTIMES WE HEAR FROM TEACHERS IN CLASSROOMS THAT IF A KID'S NOT FED OVERNIGHT OR IF THE SCHOOL IS LITERALLY THE ONLY PLACE THEY'RE GETTING ONE MEAL A DAY AND THERE IS NO SNAP BENEFITS, THERE IS NO FOOD STAMP, ETC.

AT HOME THAT THEY DON'T CONCENTRATE AS WELL, ETC.

WHAT ARE THE OTHER KINDS OF COSTS WE'RE NOT THINKING ABOUT THAT WHEN THESE SNAP BENEFITS DISAPPEAR, THAT WE'RE GOING TO EVENTUALLY COLLECTIVELY PAY FOR IN DIFFERENT WAYS?

>> SO AGAIN, ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS SNAP IS DOING, IT'S PROTECTING FAMILIES FROM FOOD INSECURITY.

IT'S NOT JUST THAT THEY'RE HUNGER.

WE KNOW IF A HOUSEHOLD OR INDIVIDUAL HAS FOOD INSECURITY, THERE ARE NEGATIVE HEALTH OUTCOMES AND ACADEMIC OUTCOMES ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.

HEALTH IS DIABETES AND HEART DISEASE AND AN INCREASED OF BIRTH DEFECTS, GREATER RISK FOR COGNITIVE PROBLEMS, AND EVEN MENTAL ILLNESS.

IF YOU'RE A CHILD IN SCHOOL AND YOUR FAMILY RECEIVES SNAP BENEFITS AND THOSE BENEFITS GO AWAY, THEN YOU'RE HUNGRY.

IF YOU'RE HUNGRY, YOU'RE NOT FOCUSED.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT FOOD INSECURITY AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO HEALTH AND EDUCATION, THAT COSTS THE COUNTRY ABOUT $179 BILLION ANNUALLY.

>> RIGHT NOW, THERE'S THIS POLITICAL IMPETUS TO MAKE YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES HAVE WRITTEN ABOUT REFRAMING THIS DISCUSSION ABOUT FOOD INSECURITY AND BENEFITS, AND I'M WONDERING IS THERE SOME SORT OF POLITICAL PATH HERE WHERE THESE TWO IDEOLOGIES COULD HAVE SOME OVERLAP AND SEE THE BENEFIT IN HAVING PEOPLE FED.

>> YEAH.

SO YOU KNOW, THE PLATFORM, THE MAKE AMERICA HEALTHY AGAIN PLATFORM IS PREMISED ON THE IDEA THAT CHRONIC DISEASE IS HIGH, WHICH IS TRUE.

AND THAT THOSE RATES NEED TO BE BROUGHT DOWN, ESPECIALLY AMONG CHILDREN, WHICH IS ALSO TRUE.

THE PLATFORM MAKES AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF SENSE IN THEORY.

THE CHALLENGE IS THAT THE WAY THE PLATFORM IS BEING IMPLEMENTED IS THAT WE'RE SEEING THESE CHANGES LIKE THESE MASSIVE CUTS TO SNAP, WHICH ARE COMPLETELY UNDERMINING THE ABILITY OF THE MAHA PLATFORM.

I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY FOR MAHA TO HAVE IMPACT, BUT THE CHANGES WE'RE SEEING AS PART OF THIS ADMINISTRATION ARE REALLY WORKING FOR COUNTER PURPOSES.

>> I'M SPEAKING TO YOU NOW AS A PRESTIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS IN AMERICA, HARVARD, AND I'VE READ IN YOUR PROFILE THAT AS A CHILD GROWING UP IN INNER CITY BALTIMORE THAT YOUR FAMILY BENEFITED FROM SNAP AND WIC.

>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

SO GROWING UP AND I GREW UP IN INNER CITY BALTIMORE IN A LOW- INCOME WORKING CLASS NEIGHBORHOOD, AND MY PARENTS WERE PUBLIC SCHOOLTEACHERS.

MY MOM STEPPED OUT OF THE WORK FORCE TO TAKE CARE OF US, AND WE RECEIVED SNAP BENEFITS FOR A PERIOD, WIC BENEFITS FOR A PERIOD.

IT WAS A CRITICAL LIFELINE FOR MY FAMILY.

IT'S BEEN A REAL HONOR TO BE ABLE TO WORK ON THESE PROGRAMS PROFESSIONALLY AND TO BE AN ALUMNI OF THESE PROGRAMS BECAUSE I KNOW FIRSTHAND HOW IMPACTFUL THEY CAN BE.

>> WHAT ARE THE IMPACTS WE'RE GOING TO START SEEING THAT YOU KNOW AND IS SUPPORTED BY THE DATA IN TWO YEARS, FIVE YEARS WHEN THESE POPULATIONS OF SNAP SHRINK?

>> ONE THING WE'VE SEEN, THE LAW WAS PASSED, HR-1 WAS PASSED IN JULY OF 2025, SIX MONTHS LATER IN FEBRUARY, SNAP ENROLLMENT HAD GONE DOWN BY 3.5 MILLION OR 9%.

THE REDUCTION OF THE PROGRAM IS HAPPENING, AND IT'S HAPPENING VERY QUICKLY.

IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT IF SOMEONE LOSES SNAP BENEFITS BECAUSE OF THE CHANGES THAT ARE HAPPENING THROUGH HR-1, IT CAN ALSO DISRUPT THEIR ACCESS TO OTHER FEDERAL SAFETY NET PROGRAMS LIKE THE BIG CUTS TO MEDICAID THROUGH HR-1.

YOU LOSE MEDICAID, YOU ALSO LOSE SNAP, AND FAMILIES ARE FACING THIS TIDAL WAVE OF IMPACTS AND THEY WILL NOT HAVE RESOURCES TO DEAL WITH THEM.

A FINAL POINT TO MENTION AS ALL THESE THINGS ARE HAPPENING IS WE ARE LOSING OUR ABILITY TO MEASURE THESE IMPACTS BECAUSE THE NATIONAL MONITORING SYSTEM, WHICH WAS THE HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY REPORT, WHICH COMES OUT ANNUALLY, THAT'S BEEN ELIMINATED.

THE LAST DATA CAME OUT IN JANUARY 2025, AND IT WILL NOT BE GOING FORWARD.

AND SO WITHOUT THOSE METRICS TO THESE CHANGES HAVING ON FOOD INSECURITY, WHAT WE'RE LIKELY TO SEE IF WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON PROGRAM COSTS, ON ERROR RATES, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE FOCUSING ON THE THING SNAP IS DESIGNED TO ADDRESS, WHICH IS FOOD INSECURITY.

THAT GIVES ME A GREAT AMOUNT OF CONCERN IN THE COMING FIVE YEARS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.