Seven Local Organizations Deliver Letter to Congressman Duarte, Urging No Cuts to SNAP
Groups Gathered to Tell Rep. Duarte to Not Vote Again For A $3.6 Billion Cut to SNAP for California Families.
Merced, California – Today, Valley Families Unite, along with seven Central Valley organizations delivered a letter to Congressman John Duarte, urging him to oppose any cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
The coalition and approximately twenty advocates gathered Wednesday morning in front of Congressman John Duarte’s district office in Turlock to hand-deliver a copy of the letter.
A link to the letter can be found HERE
Irene Kao, Executive Director of Courage California and Valley Families Unite stated, "SNAP helps families put food on the table and stimulates local economies. Protecting SNAP is both a moral imperative and an economic necessity, especially for Congressional District 13 as one of the leading food producers for the state and nation. Congressman Duarte has already supported cuts to SNAP with his vote for this year’s farm bill on the House Committee on Agriculture. We urge him not to vote to cut SNAP again and join in this call for solidarity for Duarte to stand up for his constituents and prevent a $3.6 billion cut to SNAP for California families."
A delegation from CNC Action Fund, CARA and Valley Families Unite outside of Rep. Duarte’s Turlock office | Photo Credit: Valley Families Unite
Cuts to SNAP would increase the number of children and families experiencing food insecurity, the $3.6 billion reduction of SNAP benefits to Californians would also translate to up to $6.5 billion in lost economic activity in the state, and an outsized impact in Congressional District 13, which is responsible for 19% of state agricultural sales.
"SNAP is a lifeline for many families in our district," said Yesenia Cuevas, a local mother and advocate with CA Alliance for Retired Americans. “Cuts to this vital program would increase hunger and poverty for families that are already struggling with higher food prices and low-wages. We urge Congressman Duarte to support our most vulnerable residents and protect SNAP."
Valley Families Unite organizer handing the letter advocating for SNAP to Rep. Duarte’s district office staff. | Photo Credit: Valley Families Unite
The group emphasized the critical role SNAP plays in ensuring food security for Central Valley residents in Duarte’s Congressional district, 19% of which are SNAP recipients.
CA Alliance for Retired Americans Director Jodi Reid shared, “Many of our members are seniors who live on fixed incomes and have limited resources. SNAP provides them with a vital lifeline that they cannot afford to lose. Congressman Duarte must protect seniors in our community by saying no to cuts in SNAP’s funding.”
CNC Action Fund, CARA and Valley Families Unite rally-goers listening to speakers outside of Rep. Duarte’s Turlock office | Photo Credit: Valley Families Unite
Rosa Inguanzo, an Organizer with Communities for a New California Action Fund, went further, “We work with single-parent households, students and some of the Central Valley’s most vulnerable populations, many of whom are SNAP recipients, low-income or living paycheck to paycheck. We’re committed to ensuring they have a fair chance to live without worrying about their next meal or having to decide between paying for gas to get to work and school or buying groceries for the week. We need Rep. Duarte to be a champion for these folks by rejecting any cuts to the SNAP program.”
For media inquiries, please contact Mario Vasquez Zuniga at 661-483-4927 or mario@valleyfamiliesunite.org.
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Valley Families Unite represents a shared vision of economic prosperity for working families and accountable leadership in California. With the collective strength of Courage California, Inland Empire United, Communities for a New California Action Fund and Lower Costs California, we are eager to hold our elected officials accountable for fighting for the economic well-being of California families.
