The Food Depot urges Senate to Defend SNAP and Medicaid

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 22, 2025

AFTER HOUSE VOTE, THE FOOD DEPOT URGES SENATE TO DEFEND SNAP AND MEDICAID, END THREATS TO LONG-TERM STABILITY 

Santa Fe, NM — Following the House of Representatives’ passage of the budget reconciliation “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” The Food Depot strongly opposes any provisions that reduce funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid. Any cuts to nutrition programs or actions that restrict access to foundational programs will increase hunger in New Mexico. We urge the U.S. Senate to reject these harmful proposals.

“SNAP is a lifeline for families, seniors, veterans, and children in New Mexico. The Senate must reject these provisions before people face even greater challenges to access food and healthcare,” said Jill Dixon, Executive Director of The Food Depot. “Food banks cannot solve hunger alone. We need strong federal programs working with the charitable food system and other community partners to end hunger.”

SNAP is the nation’s most effective anti-hunger program. The Food Bank network, while incredibly effective, can not replace the scale of federal programs. For every meal provided by food banks and other charitable food sources, SNAP provides nine meals. With nearly 50 million Americans facing food insecurity, the highest level in over a decade, The Food Depot urges investments in SNAP, not cuts or added eligibility requirements.

Over 451,000 New Mexicans, or 1 in 5 people, are enrolled in SNAP. The program lifted 60,000 people out of poverty annually between 2015 and 2019, including 25,000 children.

Cuts to SNAP would directly harm New Mexicans:

• More than 61% of New Mexico SNAP participants are in families with children.
• More than 31% are in families with older adults or people with disabilities.
• 79% of SNAP households in New Mexico include someone who is working.

At a time when 16.6% of New Mexico households are struggling with food insecurity and 25.3% of children live in poverty, these programs must be strengthened and no unnecessary burdens should be placed on eligible families.

Cuts to SNAP would additionally have a direct impact on New Mexico’s economy. In 2023, over 1,500 New Mexico retailers, including grocery stores and farmers’ markets, redeemed over $1.28 billion in SNAP benefits. Every $1 spent with SNAP generates up to $1.80 in economic activity. SNAP invests in local economies, especially in rural areas, by supporting family-owned grocery stores, farmers markets, and food retailers.

Medicaid is also critical to New Mexico’s rural communities. With half of the state’s rural hospitals currently operating at loss and 39% of New Mexico’s population supported by Medicaid, cuts to Medicaid will have lasting effects on health and hunger. Cuts to Medicaid may lead to a further reduction in clinical services or even closures, leaving families without access to care. Approximately 40% of Medicaid recipients also use SNAP. The programs work together to improve health outcomes and reduce emergency room visits. When adults participate in SNAP, they have an average of $1,400 less in medical care costs than adults with low incomes who do not receive SNAP.  Cutting both Medicaid and SNAP would be forcing families to choose between food, medicine, and survival.

The Food Depot urges Senator Martin Heinrich, Senator Ben Ray Luján, and senators across the country to reject these cuts and protect SNAP and Medicaid. These programs are effective tools to end hunger and promote health. When preserved, these federal programs support the work of New Mexico’s charitable food system and the long-term stability of the state. The Food Depot stands ready to work with lawmakers on policies that support healthy, hunger-free communities.

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