DeLauro Recognizes the 55th Anniversary of the Food Stamp Act
WASHINGTON, DC (August 30, 2019) — Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) today released the following statement ahead of the 55th anniversary the Food Stamp Act, signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on August 31, 1964.
"55 years ago, President Lyndon B. Johnson made the Food Stamp Program permanent as part of his broader War on Poverty. Our elected leaders at the time understood the reality that is still true today: that hunger is a problem that exists in the lives of millions of people across our nation."
"More than half a century later, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, helps tens of millions of children, working families, seniors, and veterans receive nutritious meals each month—all while generating tens of billions of dollars in economic activity for local economies. While that original mission remains incomplete whenever there is still hunger, this is an outcome that we should be proud of and view as evidence in support of SNAP. Yet, the Trump Administration recently proposed to cut SNAP eligibility for millions of people. That is shameful. The President and his officials are recklessly blaming the most vulnerable in our society for needing help to put food on the table. That is wrong, and we cannot back down. I am committed to protecting this vital program, and those values that were true 55 years ago are what continue to guide us in the fight to ensure people do not go hungry in the United States."