Food insecurity has increased significantly in the U.S. in the last 10 years. According to the USDA the highest prevalence are in the southern states. Sadly, Food Banks in all 50 states are experiencing unprecedented demand.

Hunger and poverty are driven by economic and social hardships, insufficient wages, unexpected medical bills, and lack of affordable housing and health care.

This administration wanted to “restore integrity” to SNAP according to PA Republican House Rep. Glenn Thompson. “Ensure it works for the most vulnerable among us, including children.” That most people kicked off were “fraudulent.” However an analysis by PROPUBLICA June 17 found reports (by age) from 2 states, 770,000 children were no longer receiving access. And since February 2025, 4.3 million fewer people received SNAP nationwide.

Lets get this straight. This is what I found. Individual SNAP crime only accounts for a very small fraction in the overall budget. There is massive SNAP fraud by sophisticated crime syndicate networks complicit ith retailers. ID theft, automated soft ware (bots), Electronic Benefit Transfer cards that lack modern security features like micro chips, card skimming and cloning. (GAO, and FNS)

Recently in May, Fox News hosted Ag. Secretary Brooke Rollins to celebrate that millions of Americans lost their food stamp benefits as a result of drastic SNAP cuts. (Media Matters)Callous human skeletal shells as the deep part of their brain which houses empathy and interprets the emotional stresses of others, seems warped. They probably never had to choose between paying rent or buying groceries, or feel the pain of hunger pangs that come with out eating.

The MAGA right wing phony populists have a fixation about the serious food needs of the poor. And the Republican so called Christian legislators who live in a world of privilege and superiority seem to lack understanding of divine shelter noted in Psalms.

Unfortunately, we have unfair systemic structures that allow widespread hunger to continue, while massive corporate wealth accumulates.

Debra Becker

Chestnuthill Township