
SNAP increase helped lift nearly 3 million people out of poverty: analysis
An analysis released by the think tank this week said that SNAP benefits rose by 21 percent from 2021 after the Biden administration's reevaluation of the Thrifty Food Plan (TFP), which is used to determine benefit amounts for the program.
Not accounting for the influence of other pandemic-era efforts, the analysis found that the adjustment helped lift 2.9 million people out of poverty and reduced 'poverty by 4.6 percent in 2021.'
Child poverty also declined due to the higher benefits, the analysis found, noting a reduction in 'the number of children living in poverty by 7.6 percent nationally, or 1.3 million children.'
Researchers said the higher SNAP benefits yielded significant results in places like Alabama, Washington, D.C., Oklahoma, Rhode Island and West Virginia, where the report noted 'increased benefits reduced the number of people living in poverty by over 8 percent.'
A closer look at the numbers also showed the number of children in poverty dropped between 10 and 14 percent in 13 states, including Arkansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina and Ohio.
'The District of Columbia saw the greatest child poverty reduction, a reduction of more than one-third,' the analysis stated.
The analysis comes as advocates and Democrats have raised the alarm over potential SNAP cuts as Republicans ramp up work on a massive tax cuts package that conservatives hope will also include well north of $1 trillion in spending cuts.
The specifics are still unknown as to what will make the cut in the coming plan, as Republicans prepare for a series of markups upon Congress's scheduled return from recess next week in efforts to begin crafting the tax bill.
However, a blueprint for the plan approved by congressional Republicans earlier this month included instructions on the House side for its agriculture committee, which has jurisdiction over SNAP and other food and nutrition programs, to find more than $200 billion in cuts.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Axios
an hour ago
- Axios
Some Republicans aren't backing down from Epstein transparency push
Amid bipartisan calls for transparency and a cascade of Epstein-related headlines, some GOP lawmakers are holding the line — while others are urging more sunlight from the Trump administration. The big picture: The case of the disgraced financier, who died in 2019, has taken on new life under the second Trump administration, creating splinters in the president's base and dominating conversations on Capitol Hill. While some Republicans are falling in line with President Trump and making calls to move on, others are defying leadership and joining in with Democrats by continuing to criticize the administration's handling of the case. Driving the news: Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), who are leading a bipartisan charge to force a House vote on releasing files related to Epstein, were optimistic on Sunday's political talk shows that their measure would succeed. "It will pass," Khanna said on NBC's "Meet the Press." Massie warned on ABC's "This Week" that if a vote doesn't come to the floor, the GOP could feel political punishment in 2026, cautioning voters could "check out" because "Republicans didn't keep their promise." And with the House breaking for its weeks-long recess, Massie predicts the pressure will only build: "I don't think it's going to dissipate like the speaker hopes that it will." Yes, but: House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) argued in a Sunday interview with NBC's Kristen Welker that the lawmakers' discharge petition is "not the right approach," contending it doesn't build in "adequate protections" for victims. "House Republicans insist upon the release of all credible evidence and information related to Epstein in any way, but we are also insisting upon the protection of innocent victims," he said. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), echoed Johnson on "Meet the Press," saying he's "on board" to "release as much as you can, protecting victims the best you can." The other side: Massie, responding to the DOJ's conclusion that releasing further materials could hurt victims, told Welker, "That's a straw man." He continued, "Ro and I carefully crafted this legislation so that the victims' names will be redacted and that no child pornography will be released, so they're hiding behind that." Catch up quick: Trump directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to "produce any and all pertinent Grand Jury testimony, subject to Court approval" earlier this month. But a federal judge on Wednesday struck down the administration's request to unseal grand jury transcripts in connection with an investigation into Epstein, writing that the court's "hands were tied." And while Trump has said Bondi should release"credible" information, he's repeatedly bashed what he has dubbed the "Jeffrey Epstein Hoax" and blamed his political rivals for "making up" the files. Zoom out: While some Republicans and MAGA-friendly figures have turned up the heat on the administration, other Trump allies have echoed the president's targeting of his predecessors. Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) sparred with CNN's Jake Tapper Sunday over Epstein's controversial plea deal with federal prosecutors in Florida, arguing the agreement was struck under the Obama administration.


UPI
an hour ago
- UPI
State Department to burn birth control worth $9.7M meant for poor nations
The U.S. government plans to destroy $9.7 million of contraceptives for poor nations, mainly in Africa, after the nation "explored all possible options to prevent the destruction." UPI file photo | License Photo July 27 (UPI) -- The U.S. government plans to destroy a stockpile of contraceptives worth $9.7 million for poor nations, mainly in Africa, after the State Department "explored all possible options to prevent the destruction." The contraceptives include nearly 2 million doses of injectables, 900,000 implantable devices and more than 2 million oral packets, according to internal auditing in April obtained by The Washington Post. Chelsea Polis, a researcher with Guttsmacher Institute, which supports abortion rights, told the newspaper that the contraceptives could provide more than 650,000 women with pregnancy protection for up to one year and 950,000 women for three years. U.S. laws and rules prohibit sending U.S. aid to organizations that provide abortion services, counsel about the procedure or advocate for the right overseas. "The State Department confirms that a preliminary decision was made to destroy certain abortifacient birth control commodities from terminated Biden-era USAID contracts," a spokesperson said in a statement. "Only a limited number of commodities have been approved for disposal. No HIV medications or condoms are being destroyed." The destruction will cost $167,000, the spokesperson said. Most contraceptives have less than 70% of shelf life before expiration, the spokesperson said. The Guardian contacted an aide who visited the warehouse in Belgium and found the earliest expiration date was 2027. Two-thirds didn't have any labels. Belgium, the United Nations and humanitarian groups said they unsuccessfully stopped the destruction plans for the contraceptives. The U.S. Agency for International Development, which Trump disbanded and merged into the State Department, was to have distributed them. They are part of a $9.5 billion program over 10 years to provide aid to more than 40 nations. The government said it based its decision on a policy that restricts funding for reproductive-related actions in the Mexico City Policy and the Kemp-Kasten amendment. President Ronald Reagan instituted the policy in 1985 and it has become a political issue. It has rescinded by Democratic presidents and reinstated by Republicans several times, including by President Donald Trump when he returned to office in January. A bipartisan group of U.S. legislators doesn't want the contraceptives to be destroyed, including Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Democrats Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Brian Schatz of Hawaii. "This is a waste of U.S. taxpayer dollars and an abdication of U.S. global leadership in preventing unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions and maternal deaths," said Shaheen, who in June sent a letter to the Secretary of State Marco Rubio about the matter. The U.N. Population Fund and the International Planned Parenthood Federation were interested in receiving the contraceptives. "UNFPA was in conversation with Chemonics about purchasing the contraceptives but didn't receive an answer from them," UNFPA spokesman Eddie Wright said. "It's the height of hypocrisy for a government to preach efficiency and cutting waste, only to turn around and recklessly destroy lifesaving supplies when the need has never been greater," Micah Grzywnowicz, regional director of the International Planned Parenthood Federation European Network, said in a statement MSI Reproductive Choices offered to pay for shipping and repackaging. MSI provides abortion services. "The complete dismantling of the world's largest donor for international family planning has been a catastrophe for the global supply chain of contraceptives," said Sarah Shaw, associate director of advocacy and for the organization. Sub-Saharan Africa has experienced an increase in teen births, according to a study at Columbia University in 2024. The number of births climbed from 4.5 million births in 2000 to 6.1 million in 2021as they decreased in the rest of the world. In Africa, 30% of all woman use birth control but more than half would use it if available, according to DebboAfrica, a healthcare company for African women. Worldwide, around half of women of reproductive age of 15-19 use some form of contraception, according to Focus2030. Foreign aid cuts could lead to more than 14 million additional deaths by 2023, including two-thirds children, according to a study published in Lancet earlier this month. Congress earlier this month passed legislation to remove $8 billion in foreign assistance. The Atlantic reported earlier this month that 551 tons of emergency food were expiring and will be incinerated rather than being fed to almost 1.5 million children in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Almost 800,000 Mpox vaccines to be sent to Africa also are not usable because they are past their expiration date, Politico reported earlier this month.

Miami Herald
an hour ago
- Miami Herald
Fury over Epstein files follows Congress home as summer break begins
WASHINGTON - As members of the U.S. House traveled back to Capitol Hill for their final work week ahead of the summer break, U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Rome, issued a warning. Writing on social media, Greene warned that the MAGA base is angry that Republicans were breaking their promise to release files associated with the sex trafficking investigation of deceased financier Jeffrey Epstein. After years of being told the documents contained bombshells that would bring down well-connected Democrats, they wanted results. "The base will turn and there's no going back," she continued. "Dangling bits of red meat no longer satisfies. They want the whole steak dinner and will accept nothing else." But President Donald Trump sent Republican leaders a very different message, urging them to stand down on compelling the release of Epstein files. He said anything to the contrary was playing into Democrats' hands and would risk his wrath. Caught in the middle, House Speaker Mike Johnson mostly chose inaction and even sent members back home a day early. The issue is unlikely to die down with a base that remains dissatisfied and an ongoing bipartisan effort to force a vote on the House floor. House leaders shut down that effort by adjourning a key legislative committee, meaning very little legislative business was accomplished in the final days before the recess. U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter is among the many GOP members who agree with Trump that there is no need to vote now on releasing Epstein documents while the White House, at Trump's direction, is working to make some files public. Carter lamented that serious government spending decisions await lawmakers when they return in September partially because votes on appropriations bills were postponed during the turmoil. "It's unfortunate that we didn't get them done before the August break, but it just means we're going to have work that much harder in September," Carter, R-St. Simons Island, said. U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk said he understands the public interest in the Epstein files but that has to be measured against needs to protect the privacy of young victims and people whose names might be in the documents but who may not be accused of wrongdoing. "My question is: What is it that you want released?" the Cassville Republican said. "And do you know it's there? We keep talking about an Epstein list: What is that list?" No one reflects the tightrope Republican members must walk more than freshman lawmaker Brian Jack, who served as Trump's political director during his first term and who remains close with him. Jack, R-Peachtree City, was among three Republicans who voted with Democrats to subpoena the Department of Justice's Epstein-related documents. Those subpoenas will nowbe issued. The week prior, Jack voted to block a separate Democrat-led measure that would have forced a vote on the House floor on releasing the Epstein files. He has declined to speak publicly about the votes. While Republicans canceled committee meetings to avoid more tough votes on Epstein, Democrats saw an opportunity to take advantage of an issue that could have long-term impact. Congressman Hank Johnson, D-Lithonia, had a viral moment when he posted video on social media playing Jason Isbell's "Dreamsicle" on his guitar with the lyrics changed to highlight the Epstein controversy. He said it proves Republicans will do anything Trump wants them to do, even if it means shutting down the House early. But Johnson said that inaction isn't all bad. "He's doing nothing but increasing prices for the people of this country while taking away their rights at the same time," Johnson said. "So, to stop this Congress from passing additional legislation is a good thing." U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath had a slightly different take. She said Democrats were right to push for the release of Epstein documents, but she warned that the Epstein controversy risks becoming a distraction from kitchen-table issues, such as the cost of housing and health care. "It's all important, yes, but let's not take our eyes off of what's most important to the American people every single day," the Marietta Democrat said. Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.