WASHINGTON (August 4, 2026) The following statement was issued by Eric Mitchell, president of the Alliance to End Hunger, ahead of the Senate Agriculture Committee’s planned markup of a revised Farm Bill, the Agricultural Act of 2026, scheduled for Thursday, August 6:
“In recent months, we have seen what we all knew and feared would happen: individuals and families across the United States losing access to critical nutrition assistance. This includes 4.5 million people, including more than 1 million children, since last year’s reconciliation law took effect. This proposal, while giving states a bit more breathing room, does nothing to alleviate the harm and suffering already being experienced by those facing hunger today.
“The proposed one-year delay in the SNAP benefit cost-share requirement gives states some time to plan for the strain this policy will place on their budgets. But the proposal leaves the administrative cost shift untouched and gives states no additional time to reduce their error rates. Unfortunately, at the end of the day, this does nothing to ease the stress and uncertainty facing people who depend on SNAP, and in some cases will only deepen doubts about the program’s future.
“While we appreciate the effort that has gone into negotiating this legislation, the Alliance to End Hunger calls on the Senate Agriculture Committee to advance a more meaningful two-year delay in SNAP cost shifts to states and prevent further harm to people in need of food assistance.“
