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Las Vegas, Nev. – Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Three Square President and CEO Beth Martino, and The Just One Project CEO Brooke Neubauer hosted a press conference to highlight the devastating cuts to food assistance in the recently-passed Republican tax law and their impact on families in Southern Nevada.
“No child in the Silver State should have to worry about where their next meal is coming from,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “But instead of helping working families put food on the table, the Republican tax law pays for tax cuts for billionaires by kicking millions of Americans off of the food assistance they rely on. Depriving kids, veterans, and seniors of the food they need is just wrong.”
“SNAP is one of the most important tools we have to fight hunger—it helps working families, supports local businesses, and strengthens our economy,” said Three Square President and CEO Beth Martino.“Any cuts to SNAP mean more Nevadans will struggle to put food on the table, and organizations like Three Square will face even greater challenges meeting the need in our community.”
“At The Just One Project, people are always at the heart of everything we do,” said The Just One Project CEO Brooke Neubauer. “No child, senior, or family should ever have to worry about where their next meal will come from. When resources like SNAP are at risk, it’s our most vulnerable neighbors who feel it the most. That’s why we’re already exploring new ways to support our clients; to help them keep their benefits and, most importantly, keep food in their homes and on their tables. We remain committed to meeting families where they are and making sure every person has access to the food and hope they deserve.”
The Republican tax law could leave 40 million Americans across the country without access to food, including 16 million children, 8 million seniors, and 1.2 million veterans. The law cut funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which helps low-income individuals and families afford food. Recent estimates by state officials predict a $19 million budget gap for Nevada to address next year, putting roughly 130,000 Nevadans at risk of losing their benefits.
Senator Cortez Masto has been a consistent champion of Nevada’s working families, fighting to cut costs and protect benefits. She worked to end taxes on tips, and once the policy was adopted, she pressed the Trump administration to address barriers in its implementation that would hurt tipped workers in Nevada. Recently, she introduced legislation to increase tax benefits for working Nevadans. She has fought to lower the cost of prescription drugs and increase the supply of affordable housing. Two of her provisions to address the housing crisis in the Silver State were recently included in a landmark bipartisan Senate housing package. She has consistently spoken out against the cuts to Medicaid in the Republican tax law.
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