Springfield, IL— Last year, Donald Trump and Illinois Congressional Republicans Mike Bost (IL-12), Mary Miller (IL-15), and Darin LaHood (IL-16) passed their Big Ugly Bill, which made the largest cut to SNAP in history to pay for massive tax handouts for billionaires and big corporations. Since then, 194,521 Illinoisans have lost SNAP benefits they depend on to afford groceries and put food on the table, and an estimated 150,000 more households could lose assistance beginning May 1.
In response, Democratic Party of Illinois Chair Hernandez said the following:
“Donald Trump and Illinois Congressional Republicans had zero hesitation ripping food off the table of Illinoisans so their billionaire buddies could make an extra buck. Now, our kids and families are without their SNAP benefits, forced to choose between putting a meal on the table, filling their tank, or paying for health care. While Illinois families struggle to make ends meet as a consequence of Trump’s billionaire-first agenda, Illinois Democrats are fighting tooth and nail to lower costs and ensure no Illinoisan goes hungry.”
Key excerpts from Capitol News Illinois: 150,000 Illinois households may lose federal food assistance beginning May 1
By Jenna Schweikert and UIS Public Affairs Reporting (PAR)
-
Because of eligibility and work requirement changes President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, also known as H.R. 1, made to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, certain groups of immigrants and some households without dependents have already lost, or are at risk of losing, access to their SNAP benefits this spring.
-
“When I do start working, now I have to turn in my paychecks, and if I make too much, then I have to figure out if they’re going to cut me off or not because I’m making too much,” Tatiana said. But she has to work at least enough to afford necessities outside of food — things like child care and housing. And if she were to lose access to SNAP again? “I don’t know,” Tatiana said. “It’s stressful. … I’m more anxious now.”
-
“I know what this means because I’ve lived close to it. I’ve been on SNAP. I’ve watched my mother stretch meals for seven people,” Sen. Graciela Guzmán, D-Chicago, said at the rally. “SNAP was not abstract in my life. It was not a talking point. … I get to stand here as a senator because I had SNAP.”
