Congresswoman McClellan and Senator Hashmi to Join Advocates in Discussing Impacts of SNAP Cuts on the State Budget and on the Health of Virginia Families

RICHMOND, Va. — On Monday, Aug. 25 at 1 p.m., Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan and Senator Ghazala Hashmi, Chair of the Senate Education and Health Committee, will join advocates in discussing the impacts that historic $187 billion in federal cuts to SNAP will have on the state budget and on the health of Virginia families. 

Nearly 447,000 families in Virginia are at risk of losing at least some of their SNAP benefits, according to an analysis from Voices for Virginia’s Children. That figure includes 73,000 families who will see their yearly benefits reduced by over $900. Benefit reductions primarily come from freezing the Thrifty Food Plan and reducing utility and internet deductions. 

Additionally, new burdensome paperwork requirements threaten food access for groups that include veterans and families with teenagers. A new analysis from The Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis (TCI) shows that nearly 35,000 Virginia veterans live in households receiving SNAP benefits. 

TCI has also produced a new report showing that the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act, now law, will shift $352 million in new costs to Virginia. About $89 million of those new costs will begin next year, with the remainder set to begin in 2027. 

WHO: 
Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04)
Senator Ghazala Hashmi, Chair of the Senate Education and Health Committee 
Freddy Mejia, Policy Director at The Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis 
Rachael Deane, Chief Executive Officer of Voices for Virginia’s Children
Derek Houston, Chief Executive Officer of The Market at 25th, a Richmond grocery store
Impacted Virginian Asia Broadie

WHAT: Press conference discussing the impact of SNAP cuts on the state budget and on the health of Virginia families

WHEN: Monday, Aug. 25 at 1 p.m.

WHERE: Senate Press Briefing Room, located on the 4th Floor of the Virginia General Assembly Building, Room 400. 

Background:

• Memo from Voices for Virginia’s Children: Provision-by-Provision Analysis of H.R. 1 Medicaid and SNAP Provisions and the Impacts on Virginia
• The Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis Virginia Impact Report: How the Congressional Reconciliation Bill will Impact Our Communities

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