Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet held a virtual roundtable moderated by Feeding Colorado to hear from SNAP recipients, food banks, and retailers and discuss the importance of SNAP for Coloradans.
Here’s what they’re saying:
Summit Daily: Sen. Bennet, Colorado anti-hunger advocates sound alarm over SNAP cuts in Trump bill
The House-passed version of the bill cuts SNAP by more than $285 billion over the next 10 years, according to an analysis by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.
Senator Michael Bennet, a Colorado Democrat, and anti-hunger leaders say it amounts to the largest cut in federal food assistance in the country’s history.
Bennet said that could result in an additional cost of $300 million to Colorado, which is already facing what state leaders expect will be multiyear budget deficits. This past legislative session, lawmakers had to cut $1.2 billion to close a revenue gap in this year’s state budget.
The Senate is currently drafting its version of the bill, looking to temper some of the cuts passed in the House. Senators are eyeing a reduction in funding for states by as much as 15%, which Bennet believes would cost Colorado around $150 million.
“In either case, it’s the largest cuts that have ever been proposed, and it would have a material effect on communities throughout Colorado, both urban and rural,” Bennet said.
Colorado Newsline: Bennet, Colorado advocates slam GOP-proposed cuts to food assistance
Democratic U.S. Senator Michael Bennet joined a roundtable Thursday with Coloradans who would be hurt by proposed cuts to federal food assistance. They ranged from a grocery store manager in rural Baca County to a farmer from Wellington, north of Fort Collins.
“(Cuts) would have a material effect on communities throughout Colorado, both urban and rural,” Bennet said. “It’s going to affect everybody, no matter where they live, and at a time when they need, desperately, help to just feed their families.”
“These cuts would be devastating,” Bennet said during the remote roundtable. “Now we know what the scope of the Senate cuts are versus the House cuts, and in either case, it’s the largest cuts that have ever been proposed.”
Colorado Public Radio: Polis, anti-hunger groups raise objections to proposed SNAP Changes
“It would be harmful, I believe, on these families out here that are just making it by to survive. These kids don’t deserve it,” she said during a SNAP roundtable led by Democratic Senator Michael Bennet and anti-hunger advocates.
Democratic Senator Michael Bennet, who serves on the Senate Ag committee, said Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill approach to SNAP represents “the largest cuts that have ever been proposed and it would have a material effect on communities throughout Colorado, both urban and rural.”
WesternSlopeNow: Sen. Michael Bennet holds virtual roundtable for “Republican Dangers to SNAP
On Thursday, Senator Michael Bennet held a virtual roundtable to discuss the quote “Republican Dangers to SNAP.”
Bennet states, “I hope for the smaller cut; it would be better, you know, if we had to take one and not the other.”
The virtual roundtable included community members around the Centennial State alongside Senator Bennet.
“As I said earlier, [SNAP] is going to be on the receiving end of this unfunded mandate,” Bennet said.
Bennet says the president passed the bill, which will need 51 Senate votes to pass in the Senate before being finalized.
“I don’t know what the choices that he’s going to be able to assemble to get that majority vote are, but I will keep everybody on this call informed as I begin to hear what’s going on,” Bennet said.
WATCH: KWGN Denver: Bennet Discusses Dangers of Republican Cuts to SNAP at Virtual Roundtable
WATCH: KREX5 Grand Junction: Sen. Michael Bennet holds virtual roundtable for “Republican Dangers to SNAP”
WATCH: KTVD Denver: Colorado food banks combat hunger amid rising needs, SNAP concerns
WATCH: KOAA News5 Colorado Springs: Bennet Hosts SNAP Virtual Roundtable
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