The House of Representatives passed its reconciliation package that includes significant cuts to SNAP and Medicaid programs, impacting millions of children directly certified for school meals.

Additionally, the bill shifts some costs to operate SNAP and Medicaid from the federal government to the states.  Early reports about the impacts of these shifts explain that it will be a significant burden on state budgets, forcing Governors to make difficult decisions that could impact school meal operations.

If Congress passes this bill, it could have immediate impacts on your community:

• Fewer children directly certified for school meals
• Increased paperwork burdens for both families and school nutrition operators, struggling with staffing shortages
• Eligible students to fall through the cracks and miss meals
• Decreased state funding to support important state programs

Some background: Direct certification automatically enrolls children in SNAP and Medicaid-participating families for free and reduced-price school meals without requiring additional applications. This efficient system ensures vulnerable students receive nutrition while reducing administrative burdens for school nutrition professionals so they can focus on providing healthy school meals to the students that rely on them.

This bill also proposes reducing federal spending on food assistance and health care in part by shifting certain costs to state governments. This includes requiring states to help fund SNAP benefits for the first time, reducing federal support for SNAP administration, introducing new eligibility procedures, and limiting state flexibility in funding Medicaid, potentially increasing financial responsibilities for states and localities.

Your voice matters! Tell your Governor to urge Congress to oppose cuts to SNAP and Medicaid that impact direct certification and shift more financial burden to already strained state budgets!