Political Quotes

“Madam Speaker, I rise today on behalf of many Illinois residents and one in seven American families in opposing the $20.5 billion cut to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in this year's FARRM Bill. I have always believed that an America where we're in this together is much better than an America where we're on our own. For 46 million low-income Americans, SNAP is a helping hand, and it's our Nation's most important antihunger program. It's also the most effective defense against the steep rise in extreme poverty in America. Between 1996 and 2011, SNAP kept more households with children out of extreme poverty than any other government program. I have ended my participation in the SNAP challenge, where I lived on $4.50 worth of food a day. While I merely participated in this as a challenge, I often thought about the many families for whom this is an everyday reality. SNAP isn't a bailout. SNAP isn't a handout. SNAP is an assist. It's a bridge over troubled water, and there is still more we can do. ____________________”