To the editor:

The U.S. House of Representatives recently voted on a package that guts social programs supporting low-income Americans. Specifically, they cut $36 billion from the SNAP program, or food stamps.

I realize we need to balance the budget, but is this the best way to do it? Cutting programs that put food on the table for people in our community that are going hungry every day is not just shortsighted, but it is also just plain morally wrong.

We talk a lot about values in this country, but our elected officials’ votes don’t always seem to back up their words. We need to strengthen our nation’s hunger safety net, not cut the strings to it. If that cut is made law:

l Every SNAP recipient will see a reduction in monthly benefits.

l 2 million people currently on SNAP will lose SNAP benefits entirely.

l 280,000 children will lose free school breakfast and lunch.

And this while military spending and oil production subsidies in the billions (billions!) continue unabated.

Let your representatives know that this is unacceptable.