June 02, 2025 - Westmoreland County, PA
Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh and Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding joined leadership from Feeding Pennsylvania and the Westmoreland Food Bank to discuss the importance of the Supplemental Nutrition Access Program (SNAP) amid federal proposals that would take food assistance away from thousands of Pennsylvanians and significantly alter the program, costing the state over $1 billion more annually.SNAP helps nearly two million people in all communities of our Commonwealth purchase food for themselves and their families. Children and older adults represent more than half of Pennsylvanians helped by the SNAP program, and the program also allows lower income, working families and people with disabilities to keep food on their tables."SNAP helps people meet one of our most essential needs - allowing them to participate fully in work and school and live healthier. But now, Congress is currently considering changes to the SNAP program that would threaten food assistance for nearly 140,000 Pennsylvanians," said Secretary Arkoosh. "Should these proposals to change SNAP become law, vulnerable children, people with disabilities, older Pennsylvanians, and many others would see their access to food at risk and will further destabilize our agricultural economy and workforce during a tumultuous time."Speakers Include:Westmoreland Food Bank CEO Jennifer MillerDHS Secretary Dr. Val ArkooshFeeding PA CEO Julie BancroftCommissioner Ted KopasAgriculture Secretary Russell Redding
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