Political Quotes

“I thank my colleague from Connecticut very much for yielding. I rise today, alongside so many of my colleagues, to make one thing very clear. Republicans' proposed funding cuts to SNAP are unconscionable and will send millions into poverty and food insecurity. SNAP is an essential lifeline that working families across America rely on to put food on the table. In New York City alone, where I come from, more than 1.7 million people rely on SNAP benefits to help them feed their families. Nationwide, there are more than 41 million SNAP recipients. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 92 percent of SNAP benefits go to households with income below the poverty line and a shocking 54 percent go to households at or below half of the poverty line. It begs the question: What do my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have against working families doing their best to succeed? Do you not care if our children go without food? It is just simply unacceptable. Food is a basic necessity. In the wealthiest country in the world, it should not even be a question whether our government is going to make sure that everyone, especially innocent children, have basic necessities. Our budgets show where our priorities lie. Let's reverse these draconian cuts to SNAP, let's not cut taxes on the wealthy, and let's put our families and our children first.”