MassBudget: Statement on the Impacts of Reconciliation bill on MA

On July 4, 2025, the President of the United States signed an extensive budget reconciliation bill that will bring extraordinary pain upon millions of families across the nation. This bill will take health coverage and food access away from millions of the most vulnerable people across the country in order to give the wealthiest people massive tax cuts. The bill signed by the President will be detrimental to the economy and will bring the most direct harm to low- and middle-income families, including Massachusetts residents.

MassBudget President Viviana Abreu-Hernández, PhD, issued the following statement:

“This Billionaire Bailout Bomb bill targets millions of individuals and families already struggling by eliminating their healthcare and food support in order to help the rich get richer. Not only is it inhumane but it is also fiscally irresponsible, raising the national debt limit by over an estimated $3 trillion dollars over the next decade.

The bill signed by the President on July 4th also extends tax cuts that overwhelmingly benefit the wealthiest in the country. According to an analysis of the bill from Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP), the wealthiest top 1% by income will receive $1.02 trillion dollars in tax cuts over the next decade. During that same period, there will be $930 billion in cuts to Medicaid, which provides health care access to low-income individuals and families. 

MassBudget: Statement on the Impacts of Reconciliation bill on MA

It is important to put this bill in context because it is part of a larger national agenda, commanded by the President, that intentionally targets the most vulnerable people. Current estimates forecast that around 300,000 in Massachusetts could lose health coverage due to changes in Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. Our partners at Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI) estimate that 150,000 Massachusetts residents are at risk of losing some or all of their household’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) due to the changes in this bill, leaving families unable to afford groceries.  "

Continue reading the statement -> https://massbudget.org/2025/07/07/statement-on-reconciliation-bill-signed-by-the-u-s-president/

SNAP action day - contact your Congressional legislators

SNAP action day - contact your Congressional legislators

SAVE THE DATE! 

On Wednesday, April 30, 2025, join advocates and individuals across the Northeast region in a powerful SNAP Day of Action. 

More details to come!

Shared from ->   https://www.instagram.com/p/DI_8lKmRd4r/

Download the PDF ->   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FfYE2afA_Qj08azRVSJfQ-H3TqrWHYKr/view?usp=drive_link

Project Bread has additional info -> https://projectbread.org/events/snap-day-of-action

Franklin Food Pantry responds to questions on changes to Federal nutrition programs

Many of our supporters have asked about changes to federal nutrition programs and the impact on the Franklin Food Pantry. While we can’t predict the future, we want to reassure you that thanks to our dedicated staff, committed Board, and incredible volunteers, we are confident that we are in a position to adapt and find solutions to whatever comes our way. 

Franklin Food Pantry responds to questions
on changes to Federal nutrition programs

Your continued support is as important as ever. 

Together we will make sure our neighbors continue to receive the care and resources they need. 

Together, we’re stronger — and together, we’ll keep making a difference. 

❤️ #FranklinFoodPantry #CommunityStrong #TogetherWeCan #EndHunger

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/18qpoSEUCq/

For more information about The Pantry (including contributing to the cause) visit->    https://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/

Protect your SNAP benefits from illegal card skimmers

Protect your SNAP benefits from illegal card skimmers By Ari Lazarus With SNAP benefits, you use an EBT card to buy food at the store. But we're hearing about scammers using illegal skimmers to steal card information, then grabbing your benefits for themselves.    Here's how to spot and avoid these scams.  Read more ->  https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2024/05/protect-your-snap-benefits-illegal-card-skimmers?utm_source=govdelivery

Protect your SNAP benefits from illegal card skimmers

Franklin Farmers Market accepts SNAP benefits

"We are delighted to share that The Franklin Farmer's Market now accepts SNAP benefits! We are excited that the Franklin Community is working together to help combat food insecurity and provide our neighbors with healthy fruits and vegetables.

Visit the Franklin Farmer's Market on Fridays from June 3 - October 29 from 2 - 6 PM (except for 4th of July weekend).

Thank you to Dean Bank for sponsoring a match program." 

Updated:  "Thank you for everyone's patience with our SNAP equipment not working this past Friday. The issue has been resolved and we are excited to get the program up and running! "

Shared from Instagram -> https://www.instagram.com/p/CegVeHqsEQV/ 

Franklin Farmers Market accepts SNAP benefits

"Food insecurity is a silent problem"

"The number of Massachusetts households lacking enough food to get by doubled during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a recent study from Project Bread.

More than half a million residents, more than a quarter of them children, who are eligible for SNAP, or food stamps, don’t receive benefits for the nation’s No. 1 anti-hunger program, according to the research by Project Bread, a Boston nonprofit that works to end hunger in the state.

“The cycle of hunger, it definitely is real,” said Erin McAleer, president and CEO of Project Bread, which surveyed more than 800 Boston residents in partnership with the city’s Office of Food Access and UMass Boston’s Center for Survey Research."

Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/08/22/metro/hungry-mass-households-doubled-during-pandemic/

Direct link to the Project Bread study updated in Aug 2021

https://www.projectbread.org/research/barriers-to-snap

"Food insecurity is a silent problem"

A related article from The Washington Post based upon census data

"Hunger around America is improving, compared with a month ago, according to the most recent U.S. census data. But food insecurity has a long way to go before returning to pre-pandemic levels.

Self-reported food insecurity for the week ending Aug. 2 was at its lowest levels since the start of the coronavirus pandemic for households with children, according to the census data. That dovetails with strong jobs numbers, stronger economic growth and other bright spots in the economic recovery.

But food stamps enrollment is still way up, 2 million more than last year and 6 million more than in 2019. And food banks are still seeing dramatically more need than during pre-pandemic times." 

Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/08/23/hunger-pandemic-food-stamps/