WITH THANKSGIVING TWO DAYS AWAY AND FOOD BANKS STRUGGLING AS NEW GOP SNAP CUTS TAKE EFFECT, SCHUMER ANNOUNCES NEW LEGISLATION TO STRENGTHEN SNAP FOR MORE THAN 50,000 NORTH COUNTRY KIDS, FAMILIES, SENIORS, & VETS WHO RELY ON VITAL ANTI-HUNGER PROGRAM, HELP LOCAL FARMERS AND SAVE COUNTY BUDGETS FROM PAYING FOR DEVASTATING FOOD CUTS

Over The Summer, Trump Rushed To Pass Largest Cut To SNAP In History – Nearly $200 BILLION – To Fund Tax Breaks For Billionaires With Those Cuts Beginning Now Just Before Thanksgiving; Local Schools & Food Banks Are Already Seeing Surging Need As Grocery Prices Skyrocket From Tariffs

Schumer Says These Cruel SNAP Cuts Hurt Our Students, Families, Farmers & Food Banks And Now Is Announcing New Legislation To Keep The North Country Fed, Reverse Anti-Hunger Cuts

Schumer: Thanksgiving Is A Time For Us To Take Care Of Our Neighbors And That Means Protecting SNAP

As North Country schools and food banks prepare to help families for Thanksgiving, just as GOP SNAP cuts start to take effect adding to already overwhelming demand, U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer today announced his new legislation – the Restoring Food Security for American Families and Farmers Act – to repeal the devastating SNAP cuts set to rip away food from thousands of hungry kids and families across America. Standing at Massena High School, Schumer said New Yorkers are already struggling to feed their families amid rising grocery costs due to tariffs and losing vital food assistance because of the cuts in the Republican budget, causing advocates to warn of a hunger crisis.

“SNAP isn’t an abstract policy or a number in a spreadsheet; it’s food, dignity, and survival for thousands of families here in the North Country. Thanksgiving is around the corner, and food banks are already overwhelmed because of rising grocery costs due to tariffs, and now families are being hit with devastating cuts to food assistance that could hurtle us to a hunger crisis,” said Senator Schumer. “That’s why I’m introducing the Restoring Food Security for American Families and Farmers Act. This new bill will protect SNAP and stop thousands of New Yorkers from going hungry, and ensure every family has the basic security and dignity of food on the table. This is not a partisan issue; it is a moral issue.”

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the largest anti-hunger program in the United States and a lifeline for nearly 3 million NY seniors, veterans, and families who rely on the critical funding to purchase groceries. SNAP provides an average of $187 per month in food aid to over 42 million people nationwide. 3 million New Yorkers receive SNAP benefits, including more than 50,000 in the North Country. A county-by-county breakdown for those in the North Country on SNAP can be found below:

Schumer and colleagues’ new Restoring Food Security for American Families and Farmers Act would reverse the SNAP cuts in the “Big, Ugly Betrayal,” helping families put food on the table, food banks keep shelves stocked, and local farmers sell their local food products. The entire Democratic caucus has signed on to co-sponsor the legislation. The full text for the legislation can be seen HERE. The Republican-passed ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ this month began to rip away food benefits from millions of Americans, with even more cuts set to come in 2027 and 2028, eventually slashing or shutting off benefits for 4 million Americans and totaling nearly $200 BILLION in food assistance cuts, all to help pay for bigger tax breaks for billionaires.

Cuts to federal food assistance programs like SNAP are already being felt by schools, food pantries, and farmers across the North Country. In St. Lawrence County, where approximately 17.5% of households and 21.9% of children fall below the poverty line, nearly 7,400 households and 22.5% of children receive more than $2.3 million in total SNAP benefits.

At the Massena Central School District, 760 of the district’s 2,445 students receive SNAP benefits, and 64% of the district’s students qualify for free and reduced lunch. According to school officials, SNAP and other federal food assistance programs are more important than ever for students and families, as demand for breakfast and lunch at the district’s five schools has surged by tens of thousands of meals in the last five months – from around 19,000 breakfasts and 21,000 lunches in June 2025 to over 30,000 breakfasts and 32,000 lunches in October 2025.

Demand for food is also up at the Salvation Army in Massena, which has had to rely on private donations to help handle the increase. In recent months, Salvation Army officials report seeing an increase of around 20% at their food pantry. At Clarkson University’s NYS-recognized Pantry, CU Pantry, over 30 students and faculty members have volunteered to serve more than 3,661 students and 106,208 pounds of food in the last year. To help handle increasing traffic at the pantry and more demand for food in the Potsdam community this year, CU Pantry is working on upgrades like temperature-controlled smart lockers and pre-ordering systems. Other food pantries in St. Lawrence County are also reporting greater demand for food, including St. Peter’s Outreach Ministry in Massena.

According to new data from Hunger Free America, New York families are being slammed by higher prices at the grocery store. Half of New York families said they could not afford balanced meals, 24% said they were forced to buy less nutritious food for their children, 31% said they had to reduce portion sizes for their children, and 19% said they had to skip meals for their children. More than half of families said they were forced to obtain free food from food charities, with 60% having to wait an hour or more for food, and 57% going to agencies that ran out of food.

“The recent manufactured SNAP crisis has exposed deep wounds and cuts across the North Country within our food system and beyond. SNAP is not just about providing relief for families, individuals, and communities but it remains a lifeline for economic stability, rural livelihoods, and providing a critical safety net for our region. Nearly 52,000 households across our region rely on these benefits to offset the rising costs of food,” said Joshua Stephani, Director, Adirondack Food Systems Network. “St. Lawrence County, along with its neighbors in the North Country, is witnessing an increased demand for services as resources across the social safety net are being weakened. On behalf of the Network, we are thankful to Senator Schumer for showing up for and in the North Country, reminding us that our rural communities and livelihoods are part of the conversation throughout New York and in Washington. Our communities in the North Country continue to persevere despite challenging odds and we are grateful for an advocate upholding our rural, Upstate voices.”

"In St Lawrence County, SNAP dollars provide a meaningful boost to our farmers and help families access fresh, healthy food. When SNAP funding is reduced, households are forced toward lower-cost, lower-quality options, foot traffic at the farmers markets declines, and our farmers feel the impact immediately. Supporting SNAP means supporting our farmers and ensuring those who need it most can access the fresh food they deserve. That is why I am proud to stand with so many of my fellow community members in support of Senator Schumer’s push for bipartisan legislation to fully fund SNAP,” said Erin Cuseo, St. Lawrence County Livestock & Produce Farmer, Director of GardenShare Farmer’s Market.

“I am pleased to welcome Sen. Chuck Schumer to Massena to discuss his new legislation strengthening federal food assistance for students and families in communities like ours. Hunger is not a political issue. Hunger is a human issue. It is unfathomable that any mother in America goes to bed at night worrying about how she will feed her children. That any American faces food insecurity is simply unacceptable. I welcome action by all members of Congress, Democrats and Republicans, as they work together to ensure that every American has food on the table,” said Ronald P. Burke, Superintendent, Massena Central School District.

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