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Council adopts resolution condemning SNAP cuts; legal services and advocates urge use of exemptions to prevent hunger
Summary
Philadelphia City Council unanimously adopted a resolution condemning federal SNAP cuts; legal-services advocates and community speakers urged use of SNAP exemptions and client outreach to prevent loss of benefits for working-age adults.
Philadelphia City Council on Sept. 18 adopted a resolution (250743) condemning proposed federal cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The measure passed by voice vote after public testimony from legal-services advocates and community members who warned that new work requirements could strip food assistance from tens of thousands of Philadelphians.
Darren Forgeron, a paralegal with Community Legal Services of Philadelphia, outlined the new SNAP work-rule penalties for adults age 18–64 who are not in households with children under 18, saying they could be limited to three months of benefits every three years unless they qualify for exemptions or can document 20 hours of work weekly. Forgeron advised claims officers and advocates to help clients secure exemptions, and provided a threshold figure for an earned-income exemption: ‘‘Recipients who work are exempt from SNAP work requirements if they earn at least $217.50 a week before taxes,’’ he said.
Other public commenters connected the nutritional-security issue to broader policy choices. Kate Perez and community speakers stressed the health risks of hunger and equated dietary deprivation with long-term harm to children; Perez said, ‘‘Cuts to snap are cuts to the health of Philadelphia.’’ Several speakers also framed the federal policy choices within global events, urging the city to shield residents from the consequences of federal action.
Councilmember Ruth Landau moved adoption of the resolution; it was seconded and approved by voice vote with the clerk recording ‘‘the ayes have it.’’ The resolution condemns the federal cuts and calls attention to the real-world impacts of tightened SNAP eligibility on low-income residents.
The adopted resolution itself does not create or alter municipal SNAP administration but signals council’s position and urges outreach and protections to ensure eligible Philadelphians claim available exemptions. Community Legal Services circulated information and a web resource (clsphila.org/snap-changes) in testimony to help practitioners and residents identify exemptions.
