Durbin, Duckworth: Republicans' so-called 'Big Beautiful Bill' Will Leave Illinoisans Hungry & Harm Local Businesses
New data shows that SNAP cost-sharing provision in the Republican bill could push up to $1 billion yearly in new costs onto the State of Illinois, forcing the State to either cut benefits or the number of people who get SNAP, leaving Illinoisans without the food assistance they need and harming local grocers, especially in rural communities
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today highlighted what President Trump’s and Republicans’ reconciliation bill would mean for Illinois families based on new data from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP)—including taking food assistance away from Illinoisans to provide large tax breaks to the wealthiest individuals.
Under the Republican plan, an estimated 472,000 Illinoisans would be at risk of losing some of their grocery assistance, including many children, seniors, veterans, and those with disabilities. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a lifeline for vulnerable families, successfully reducing hunger, lifting millions of families—including more than 200,000 Illinoisans and 100,000 children in Illinois—above the poverty line, and improving students’ academic performance.
CBPP’s new estimates show that, under the Republican plan, the State of Illinois would be required, for the first time, to pay for SNAP food benefit costs, which could force between $888 million and $1.11 billion in new annual costs onto the State, in the House’s proposal. Because of the significant new budgetary cost this would create, Illinois—like all other states—would be forced to either cut benefits or the number of people who get SNAP, which would take food off the table of Illinois families and negatively impact neighborhood grocers, especially in rural communities.
“Republicans have concocted a budget gimmick that could force up to $1 billion in new costs onto the State of Illinois, while leaving vulnerable families struggling. Forcing SNAP costs onto states is a cut in funding, putting half a million Illinoisans at risk of losing some of their grocery assistance, including many kids, seniors, veterans, and those with disabilities,” Durbin said. “President Trump’s and Republicans’ premise is simple—they want to take food off the table of working families in order to give the wealthiest Americans an even larger tax break. It is unconscionable. We need four Republican Senators to stand with Democrats and say ‘no’ to this big, beautiful betrayal.”
“Trump and Republicans are selling out Illinoisans to hand out tax cuts to billionaires,” Duckworth said. “If this bill becomes law, not only would hundreds of thousands of Illinoisans be at risk of going hungry, but it would stick our state with up to a billion dollars in new costs. This bill isn’t just fiscally irresponsible, it’s morally wrong.”
According to the National Grocers Association, SNAP supports nearly 250,000 jobs nationwide in community grocery stores and more than 139,000 additional jobs in related sectors like agriculture, manufacturing, and transportation. And SNAP associated sales and administration at the grocery store level contributed to more than $1.9 billion in state and local tax revenue. Under the Republican plan, the more than 850 grocery and convenience stores in Illinois—in every county, including downstate and rural communities—will face drops in revenues after nearly half a million Illinoisans are forced to cut their shopping budgets. Farmers will see a 16-cent loss for every food and beverage dollar.
For the almost 50-year history of the modern SNAP program, the program’s food benefits have been 100 percent federally funded. This was a policy choice reflecting a nationwide commitment to address hunger and ensure that all eligible low-income households receive a food benefit that allows them to afford an adequate diet, no matter which state they live in.
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