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Federal delegation staff warn SNAP, Medicaid and farm programs face major risk; tariffs disrupting Vermont trade and maple supply chains
Summary
Catherine Van Hayes, state director for U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, and Ryan McLaren, senior advisor for U.S. Sen. Peter Welch, told the Agriculture, Food Resiliency & Forestry committee that a House‑passed budget reconciliation bill could cut SNAP and Medicaid funding and that new tariffs announced in April are already disrupting Vermont agricultural inputs and small food businesses.
Catherine Van Hayes, state director for U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, and Ryan McLaren, senior advisor for U.S. Sen. Peter Welch, briefed the Agriculture, Food Resiliency & Forestry committee on a budget reconciliation bill in the U.S. Congress and on a new round of tariffs announced in April that officials said are disrupting Vermont commerce.
Why it matters: Committee members were told the House‑passed reconciliation bill contains provisions that could substantially reduce SNAP and Medicaid support and that tariff measures and rapid changes at the border are increasing costs for agricultural inputs and small food‑sector businesses in Vermont.
Van Hayes told the committee the House passed the reconciliation bill with a late, 42‑page amendment and that it now goes to the Senate. She described provisions that could “have a pretty substantial budget impact for the state of Vermont” if Medicaid and SNAP funding are reduced, noting states must balance budgets and would face consequential shortfalls if federal support is cut.
McLaren said…
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