ENFOQUE ECONÓMICO By Hernando Ramírez-Santos T he National Grocers Association (NGA) is mobilizing independent grocers across the country to oppose cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that would reduce funding for the program by 20 percent. NGA President and CEO Greg Ferrara warned that the drastic changes to SNAP funding introduced in the reconciliation bill, which has already passed the House of Representatives, are very concerning. “As the reconciliation process moves to the Senate, we look forward to working with lawmakers to protect the most vulnerable communities and strengthen SNAP Cuts: Threat to Vulnerable Communities and Independent Stores this critical program, ensuring it is adequately funded and efficiently imple- mented while addressing unacceptable levels of error and fraud,” Ferrara said. NGA pushes Congress against SNAP cuts NGA representatives met with advisers to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senator Amy Klobuchar, and Congresswoman Angie Craig. The shopkeepers delivered a clear message: cuts to SNAP will hurt vulnerable families and the small businesses that serve them. ECONOMY FOCUS What’s at stake The bill threatens more than 42 million Americans who rely on SNAP, including 14 million chil- dren and more than 6.5 million older adults. According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), Congress’ budget proposal would cut funding for SNAP by $285.7 billion over the 2025-2034 period: • States would have to cut or eliminate SNAP bene- fits for approximately 1.3 million people per month, on average. • Expanding the work requi- rement would reduce SNAP by about $90 billion through 2034. • It would eliminate food assis- tance for 3.2 million people in a typical month, including 1 million older adults, 800,000 parents of school-age chil- dren, and 1.4 million adults between the ages of 18 and 54 living in areas with higher unemployment. Read more on page 32… 30 JULY / AUGUST 2025 ABASTO.COM