With a new president and a Republican congress only weeks away, the head of an Indiana group combating hunger is concerned about the fate of food assistance programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.
SNAP, formally known as food stamps, is a federal program that helps low-income families afford nutritious food. It’s a part of the Farm Bill, and typically Republicans focus on supporting farm assistance over food assistance.
Read more: What's the process to apply for SNAP benefits? Here's what to expect
The Executive Director of Feeding Indiana’s Hungry Emily Weikert Bryant, said that if there are any changes to SNAP, they won’t happen right away.
“All policy that comes through the federal government goes through a process,” she said. “So you know, day one of any new anything, there won't be a significant change. And so folks can still expect that their SNAP benefits will load when they're supposed to load. The eligibility guidelines shouldn't change.”
Bryant and her colleagues believe that the process of getting a Farm Bill out of committee, to the House or Senate floor, then negotiated between those two bodies, has enough voices involved that there shouldn’t be huge shifts in policy.
“I think the arguments and the policy ideas that we have seen for many years will continue to be part of the conversation,” she said.
Read more: What’s SNAP Got To Do With It?
Bryant said no matter what happens at the federal or state level, food banks and pantries will continue to work to get food to those in need.
“Policies can change, procedures can change, but the safety net of those state and federal programs will continue to be there and will continue to serve any neighbor who needs that kind of assistance,” she said.
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