The Serrano Report, Vol. X, #24
On Capitol Hill
Serrano Leads Letter Decrying Food Stamp Cuts
Congressman Serrano led a letter signed by 10 New York City Members of Congress urging a rejection of a series of proposed cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which will cause further hunger and suffering in New York City and around the country. The letter was sent to congressional conferees working to reconcile the Senate and House versions of the Farm Bill, which contains the SNAP program. As of November 1, benefits are set to be reduced by an average of $36 per family.
“I’m outraged at the apathy some in Congress are showing regarding the SNAP benefit reductions,” said Serrano. “With record numbers of people in need of nutrition assistance, we cannot cut benefits. People are struggling and cuts will only increase hunger and suffering. I was proud to lead my fellow New York City Members in sending this letter to urge the conferees not to cut the SNAP program.”
The full text of the letter, including signatories is below.
As Members of the Congressional Delegation from New York City, we write on behalf of the millions of Americans that we represent to oppose the proposed cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) contained in H.R. 2642, the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013 as well as a Senate proposal to limit SNAP and Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) coordination. As you conference the Farm Bill, we urge you to reconsider these drastic cuts to SNAP, which would have devastating effects on thousands of families in New York City and millions of families nationwide.
SNAP is a critical and proven poverty-reduction program for our nation's most vulnerable Americans. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, SNAP lifted 4 million people out of poverty in 2012. Moreover, approximately two-thirds of SNAP recipients are children, elderly, or disabled. Additionally, despite assumptions to the contrary, most SNAP families with children that include at least one working-age, non-disabled adult are working households.
In New York City, more than 1.9 million residents rely on SNAP benefits. The $40 billion of cuts proposed in H.R. 2642 would result in an estimated loss of 100-131 million meals in New York City in the first year alone. We urge the conference committee to reject these drastic cuts.
We are also extremely concerned by a Senate proposal that would disproportionately affect New York City SNAP recipients. S.954, the Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2013, includes cuts which target SNAP recipients in federally subsidized housing – including the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) – who receive assistance from the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), known as “heat and eat.” This proposal would have a harmful effect on New York City public housing residents, who represent 40% of the families that would lose more than $90 a month under this proposal. We also urge you to reject this proposal as conference negotiations proceed.
We would find it difficult to support a Farm Bill that would increase food hardship in New York City and across the nation. SNAP is a critical program that should be maintained at a time when Americans are recovering from the recession.
Sincerely,
José E. Serrano
Yvette D. Clarke
Joseph Crowley
Steve Israel
Hakeem Jeffries
Carolyn Maloney
Gregory W. Meeks
Grace Meng
Jerrold Nadler
Charles Rangel
The Bronx
Serrano Mourns Passing of Father Grange
Congressman Serrano joined the Bronx in mourning the passing of the Rev. John Grange, who served for decades as parish priest at St. Jerome’s in the Mott Haven neighborhood of the Bronx.
“Father Grange was my priest for many years and I personally found great inspiration in his life of service,” said Serrano. “I saw the meaning of humility and the definition of serving others. Father Grange was one of the most caring and compassionate individuals I have ever encountered. He made his life’s work the ministry to those who have the least in our nation—particularly those immigrants who have only just arrived, and are beginning the climb on our economic ladder.
“Father Grange understood that the people who have the least in economic terms often have the most in spiritual terms. Their enthusiasm for building a community at his parish was only outdone by his enthusiasm for building it. St. Jerome’s under his leadership was a vibrant hub for services, both social and spiritual. His Palm Sunday masses were a thing to behold as people spilled out of the church and into the courtyard.
“I once said that for an Irish guy, Father Grange was the best Puerto Rican priest in the Bronx, and the best Dominican priest, and the best Mexican priest and so on. And this was true. Father Grange understood the unique situations of each of these groups, and worked to provide help that would improve their lives.
“I helped him to build a “HANDS” community service center in the basement of St. Jerome’s, which has given countless people the help with skills and resources that they need to continue to move forward in our nation—whether it was English lessons, immigration help, or finishing with basic education. These services have changed so many lives, and it all came from Father Grange, who saw an unused basement and imagined a thriving community services center.
“Father Grange touched so many lives and left so many people richer for the contact, and I include myself in that count. I would not be the person I am today had it not been for the guidance and friendship of Father Grange. Like the rest of the Bronx that came to know him, I will miss him greatly. But I know that he felt fulfilled and blessed by the work he accomplished in his life and passed away happy. And our borough and this world is a better place because of all he was and all he did.”