June 17, 2025 - Harrisburg, 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 Central PA Food Bank to discuss the importance of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) amid federal proposals that would take food assistance away from at least 140,000 Pennsylvanians and significantly alter the program, costing the state over $1 billion more annually and jeopardizing the program's sustainability. Governor Josh Shapiro has made clear that Pennsylvania cannot backfill these costs. While SNAP helps nearly two million people in all communities of our Commonwealth purchase food for themselves and their families, SNAP participation rates are higher in rural areas than in urban or suburban areas. 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. 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," said Secretary Arkoosh. "Congress' proposed changes would fundamentally destabilize this program that helps both our communities and our economy. These changes are not fiscally responsible - they will only disrupt our Commonwealth's economy, workforce, and charitable food network and cause thousands of Pennsylvanians to go hungry." Speakers Include:Shila Ulrich, Central PA Food Bank PresidentDHS Secretary Dr. Val ArkooshJulie Bancroft, Feeding PA CEOPA State Senator Patty KimAgriculture Secretary Russell Redding
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