In May, the U.S. House of Representatives rejected the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018, or “Farm Bill,” to reauthorize farm programs and policy as well as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Several issues led to the bill’s dramatic defeat on the House floor, including proposed cuts to SNAP benefits for approximately two million people over 10 years.

Now, Congress must find a path forward to reauthorize the Farm Bill, which expires this fall. Approximately 11 million people with disabilities across the country, including 4,346 people in our state, rely on SNAP to survive. We know that all too often, food insecurity and disability go together. Families that include people with disabilities are two to three times more likely to experience food insecurity than families that have no members with disabilities. They simply can’t afford any cuts to their SNAP benefits.

The Arc of Colorado calls on all of our representatives and senators to oppose cuts to basic food assistance, and instead work to develop a bipartisan proposal to reauthorize the Farm Bill that sustains and protects SNAP.

Christiano Sosa

Durango