The US government has cut food stamps for millions of American people across the country after a food assistance law expired on Friday.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) cuts for nearly 48 million people came due to the Nov. 1 expiration of provisions in the 2009 Obama stimulus law that temporarily boosted benefits.
“Our elected officials have dropped the ball during a time when too many American families are still suffering from high rates of unemployment and increased homelessness,” NAACP Interim President Lorraine Miller said.
“It is deplorable that in this day and age some politicians are unwilling to take care of their fellow citizens in need,” Miller added.
This year, food stamps are being cut by $5 billion and a total of $11 billion over the next three years.
An individual receiving the benefits of $189 per month under the SNAP will see an $11 cut while a family of four will see $36 taken out of their monthly benefits.
The cuts mean 20 fewer meals for that family this month, according to the Agriculture Department’s method for calculating food costs.
In September, the House of Representatives voted to cut food stamps funding by $39 billion over the next decade. The Congressional Budget Office estimated that such a level of cuts would cause up to 3.8 million people to lose food stamp benefits in 2014.
The country’s weak economy and the high rate of unemployment have caused a growing number of people to rely on the SNAP program.
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Source: Press TV