The National Grocers Association (NGA) is deeply concerned by the cuts and programmatic cost shift changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) outlined in the House Agriculture Committee’s latest budget proposal, according to NGA President and CEO Greg Ferrara.
In a statement issued May 13, Ferrara said, “Independent grocers – often the only source of fresh and local food in rural and low-income communities –are vital partners in ensuring that SNAP recipients have access to healthy, affordable food in times of need, while also serving as an economic engine for local communities and small businesses. These cuts, if signed into law, risk undermining this long-running and successful public-private partnership.
“SNAP is not only essential to fighting food insecurity, but also a proven economic engine for thousands of local communities across the country. Supporting over 389,000 American jobs across the food supply chain, SNAP also generates over $4.5 billion in state and federal tax revenue annually. Local supermarkets are often economic hubs for small and rural communities, attracting other businesses, while making it easier for families to live locally. This is even more important in economically challenged areas, where a local supermarket can help turn the tide toward prosperity.
“NGA supports the committee’s efforts to address unacceptable error rates and to eliminate fraud and abuse by bad actors; however, the committee’s proposal to shift costs to states is a concern given the challenging headwinds that states face.
“We urge Congress to pursue balanced reforms and solutions that strengthen the program, eliminate waste and fraud, and uphold the health and economic well-being of American families, while preserving American jobs in our food chain and grocery industry.”
About NGA
NGA is the national trade association representing the retail and wholesale community grocers that comprise the independent sector of the food distribution industry. An independent retailer is a privately owned or controlled food retail company operating a variety of formats. The independent grocery sector is accountable for about 1.2 percent of the nation’s overall economy and is responsible for generating more than $250 billion in sales, 1.1 million jobs, $39 billion in wages and $36 billion in taxes. NGA members include retail and wholesale grocers located in every congressional district across the country, as well as state grocers’ associations, manufacturers and service suppliers.
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