One of many parts of the recently-passed “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” is the biggest funding cut to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) ever made. SNAP is an organization that provides food stamps to people with low income or disabilities who are unable to work. Critics argue this decrease in funding will leave many around the country without the food they need.
This bill cut funding for SNAP by over $100 billion and will be implemented throughout the next decade. That might seem like a long time to most people, but they are constantly implementing this new bill, and many are already losing their SNAP benefits.
The new law also includes more restrictions on who is eligible to get food stamps. Veterans, senior citizens and children will no longer be able to get the same benefits they had before. States must also be more strict about who is eligible for SNAP, implementing stricter work requirements with fewer exceptions.
Certain sections of this bill were also made to target specific groups of people such as immigrants, even if they are legally US citizens. This will create a huge impact on many around the country, as well as many students here at Tualatin High School.
It doesn’t end there, however. The time limit for SNAP benefits is now shorter, meaning people must renew SNAP more often, and, if they fail to qualify with the new requirements, they could be left without support for months.
How do the program administrators know how much someone has worked? It is now required for people using SNAP to report their work hours directly to the state to ensure everyone meets the requirements.
To help address local food insecurity, Tualatin High School (TuHS) has its own food cupboard open to all students who need food for themselves and their families. The cupboard, created by TuHS Design Core students several years ago, contains a variety of foods that have been donated to the school by the community. It can be found next to room 106 in the North Commons.
“I couldn’t be more proud of our school community,” Design Core teacher Becky Beeler said. “The generosity of our families has been remarkable, and our students have taken such thoughtful care of the Campus Cupboard. Everyone treats the space with respect. Our motto—‘For the Community, By the Community’—is truly alive here, and I’m overwhelmed with pride and gratitude.”
The Campus Cupboard is open daily from 8-4:30, except during lunches.
Another option is to go to the Oregon Food Bank to get help. The Oregon Food Bank is a place that helps people get the food they need when they are struggling. Even with the increased number of families in need as a result of the Big Beautiful Bill Act, they are trying hard to give people the food they need, no matter who they are or where they are from.
In a statement by Andrea Williams, the new president of the Oregon Food Bank, shesaid, “Oregonians can and must lead by example by passing the Food For All Oregonians bill. This legislation sends a clear message that immigrants and refugees can call Oregon home, and that we are committed to ensuring our communities have the resources needed to thrive. We are rising for all.”
The proposed legislation gives immigrants who are struggling to get by the help that they need so that they are not constantly trying to get food on the table by working countless hours.
Statistics show that one in eight Oregonians are struggling to get enough food to live. You may not always see it around you, but statistics prove that people are struggling. For students of TuHS, the best options available are to use the Campus Cupboard or to visit a local food bank.
