Maryland Attorney General Joins Coalition to Urge Congress to Reinstate SNAP Benefits

Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown has joined a coalition of 22 other state attorneys general in a significant appeal to congressional leaders. Their collective message urges lawmakers to restore and protect crucial Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and eligibility within the upcoming Farm Bill, pushing back against recent federal reductions that they argue are detrimental to millions of Americans. The attorneys general have specifically directed their concerns to the Senate leadership and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

The coalition’s letter highlights that recent federal cuts to SNAP represent the most substantial reductions to food assistance in modern history. They contend that these changes are leading to increased hunger, creating new administrative obstacles for families already struggling to make ends meet, and are shifting billions of dollars in costs from the federal government to states and local governments. The attorneys general see the Senate’s consideration of the Farm Bill as a critical juncture to reaffirm a bipartisan commitment to ensuring that no American experiences food insecurity due to their inability to afford food. In Maryland alone, SNAP provides essential support to 680,000 residents, including nearly 270,000 children.

New federal restrictions, enacted through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, have introduced expanded work requirements and additional administrative hurdles. These changes, according to Attorney General Brown and the coalition, make it considerably more difficult for Maryland residents to maintain their SNAP benefits or threaten to disqualify them from the program entirely. The attorneys general argue that these expanded work requirements and complex administrative processes do not effectively create jobs or reduce poverty. Instead, they assert that these measures primarily result in eligible families losing vital assistance because they are unable to navigate increasingly intricate bureaucratic systems. Furthermore, the coalition voices concern regarding the economic ramifications of the new SNAP provisions on state budgets.

The coalition is urging the Senate to adopt a different course of action compared to the House-passed Farm Bill, which they believe fails to reverse the recent cuts to food assistance. Their recommendations to the Senate include restoring SNAP benefit levels and funding, reversing or delaying the implementation of new cost-sharing requirements for states, and rolling back the expanded work requirements and eligibility restrictions. They are also advocating for the Senate to reject any further proposed benefit cuts, preserve flexibility for states in administering the program, and work to strengthen access to nutrition assistance for vulnerable populations such as seniors, children, veterans, and working families. The letter was formally sent to Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Chairman John Boozman, and Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the Maryland Attorney General’s Office.

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