During a House Democratic Leaders press briefing on Tuesday, Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-CA) spoke about cuts to food assistance programs in the Republican budget.
00:00Thank you, Chairman. The USDA has expected a rollout initiative to essentially prevent people on SNAP programs from using SNAP benefits to purchase sugary drinks. Is that something Democrats would support or oppose?
00:16What we know is that these basic needs programs are under assault by Donald Trump and House Republicans. Their own reconciliation plan would cut hundreds of billions of dollars, over $200 billion, out of the Department of Agriculture and these food nutrition programs.
00:35We agree in healthy diets. We agree that there are choices that people can make that will both expand the money that is given to them and ensure healthier lives.
00:51What we also know is that these programs like food nutrition and WIC go to the neediest of Americans. They go to people who are just trying to buy formula and food for their families.
01:04That is under attack with the House Republican reconciliation plan. And that's what we're focused on. There's plenty of opportunity for committees to work through what this looks like and what the definition of a sugary drink is.
01:18And that's a fair conversation for us to have. But let's not lose sight that these programs are under attack by Donald Trump and House Republicans.
