Tami crop2

If you’re struggling to comprehend the massive and complex One Big, Beautiful Bill Act, you’re not alone. It’s complicated, messy and ominous.

As written, it will slash at least $267 billion in federal dollars from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – our country’s most effective anti-hunger program – over the next 10 years. It would require states to cover a share of the costs that help 42 million low-income people (including more than 262,500 Iowans) keep food on the table each month.

States aren’t in a position to cover those costs, given 40% (including Iowa) are experiencing declining tax revenues. Iowa would be forced to absorb an additional $26 million annually under cost-sharing, despite maintaining one of the lowest SNAP error rates in the country.

At risk: 9.5 billion meals per year
The charitable food system can’t begin to meet the crushing need this bill would create, if passed by the Senate. We’re committed to our mission, but we can barely keep up as it is. Feeding America estimates the bill could eliminate 9.5 billion meals annually for people facing food insecurity. To put this in perspective, the entire Feeding America network – which includes Food Bank of Iowa – distributes 6 billion meals a year. How could we collectively provide 9.5 billion MORE?

It’s not possible. Food Bank of Iowa’s monthly food budget now equals what we invested in all of 2019. We are already challenged to meet record-level need for food assistance that’s been rising for more than three years.  

Perfect storm
When you consider devastating cuts to federal poverty relief that help people access the nutrition they need from their local grocery stores . . . combined with less USDA food for our programs and donors who are navigating their own economic uncertainty . . . food banks and the people who rely on us have never been more vulnerable.

There is no scenario in the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act that doesn’t take food away from kids, seniors and people struggling to make ends meet. Not to mention the $3 trillion this bill would add to the deficit, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office and the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.

The One Big, Beautiful Bill Act is now before the Senate, where it could pass by the July 4 recess. Please act now. Contact Senators Grassley and Ernst to advocate for the health and well-being of our neighbors. Use your voice to ask for compassion and common sense.

Tami Nielsen is chief executive officer of Food Bank of Iowa.