Memphis NAACP leader says proposed SNAP, Medicaid cuts ‘a people issue,’ not partisan one
- The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” passed the House and proposes significant cuts to SNAP and Medicaid, potentially impacting millions of Americans.
- The NAACP urged Tennesseans to contact their senators and oppose the spending cuts.
- Opponents argue the cuts would worsen food insecurity and strain healthcare access, particularly in rural areas.
The Memphis branch of the NAACP voiced severe concerns over potential cuts to food stamps and Medicaid at a press conference on June 10.
Branch leaders urged Tennesseans to call their senators and ask them to vote against the spending cuts.
“This is a fight about all the citizens of Tennessee, from Memphis to Johnson City,” said Kermit Moore, president of the NAACP Memphis Branch, at the conference. “We’re going to join with our brothers and sisters across this state and make them understand this is not a Republican or Democratic issue, this is a people issue.”
Cuts to SNAP and Medicaid would increase food insecurity and put strain on hospitals in rural areas of West Tennessee that many rely on, said Gloria Sweet-Love, president of the Tennessee State Conference NAACP.
Reginald Alexander, a spokesperson for the Mid-South Food Bank, said the potential reduction in funding for food stamps would come at a time when the food insecurity rate is over 50 million.
What is in the controversial federal spending bill?
The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” passed the U.S. House 215-214 on May 22. The bill would cut $267 billion in federal spending for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP or food stamps, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The bill would also impose work requirements on SNAP recipients aged 55 to 64. The program provides food assistance for about 42 million Americans.
Additionally, the act could result in as many as 7.6 million Americans losing health insurance over the next decade as the legislation potentially cuts about $698 billion from Medicaid.
On May 28, a group of protestors gathered outside U.S. Rep. David Kustoff’s Memphis office to protest his vote on the bill and ask for a chance to speak with him.
“Congressman Kustoff played a key role in crafting the tax portion of the One Big, Beautiful Bill,” a spokesperson for Kustoff said in response to the protest. “Mr. Kustoff is working hard to prevent a 26% tax hike on West Tennessee families and businesses at the end of the year. In addition to tax reform, this legislation will also secure our border, unleash domestic energy production, and ensure Medicaid & SNAP work efficiently for Americans. Our country needs this bill signed into law as soon as possible.”