The DC Council Should Fund ‘Give SNAP a Raise’

Chairperson Frumin and members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify. My name is Connor Zielinski, and I am the Data Associate at the DC Fiscal Policy Institute (DCFPI). DCFPI is a non-profit organization that shapes racially-just tax, budget, and policy decisions by centering Black and brown communities in our research and analysis, community partnerships, and advocacy efforts to advance an antiracist, equitable future.

DCFPI urges the committee to allocate recurring funding of $50 million to fund the “Give SNAP a Raise Amendment Act,” which increases the maximum Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit by 10 percent a month, which equates to about $30. With Congress threatening to cut food assistance for the District’s most vulnerable residents, it is essential for the Council to step in and increase funding for SNAP.

Funding Give SNAP a Raise will:

• Improve food security for 1 in 5District residents;
• Directly address racial disparities in food access for District residents; and,
• Alleviate the harm imposed on the District’s most vulnerable residents by looming federal cuts to food assistance programs during an economic downturn.

Residents Across the District Rely on SNAP to Improve Food Security

The District’s high cost of living makes it difficult for residents with low incomes to afford basic necessities like food. Between 2021 and 2023, more than 30,000 District households did not have access to nutritious meals on a regular basis due to lack of adequate funds.^[1] SNAP is a crucial lifeline, providing much needed support to alleviate food insecurity. Program enrollment in SNAP reduces food insecurity by 30 percent, national data show.^[2] In 2023, one in five District residents relied on SNAP to put food on the table.^[3]

Children in particular benefit greatly from SNAP. An estimated 54 percent of DC households receiving SNAP have a child under the age of 18, per the American Community Survey. District seniors also rely heavily on SNAP for food access. Research has shown that enrollment in SNAP provides health benefits for older adults through better nutrition, and helps seniors maintain independence.^[4] Nearly 37 percent of DC SNAP recipient households include one or more people over 60 years old. For instance, while Ward 2 has lower overall enrollment in SNAP than most other wards, 64 percent of SNAP households in the ward include one or more people over the age of 60, underscoring the integral role SNAP plays in securing food access for low-income seniors.^[5]

Although SNAP is a lifeline, even the maximum SNAP allotment for a family of three of $768 a month is not enough for District residents, and many households receive less than that amount.^[6] The Economic Policy Institute estimates that, on average, a household of one adult and two children in the District requires $893 dollars a month for food expenses.^[7] By providing recurring funding through Give SNAP a Raise, the Council would expand food access for District residents who need it most.

Give SNAP a Raise Will Improve Food Access for Black and Brown Residents

Black and brown District residents face high rates of food insecurity. In 2023, Black and Latino households nationally experienced rates of food insecurity more than twice as high as white households.^[8] Black and brown residents are more likely to be enrolled in SNAP than white households. In 2023, 1 in 3 Black residents across the District were enrolled in SNAP, compared to one in 65 white residents.^[9] Moreover, East of the River, there are only three full-service grocery stores, despite the tax incentives in place. Comparatively, there are 73 full-service grocery stores across the rest of the city, as of 2023.^[10] The lack of proper food infrastructure East of the River highlights years of historical and ongoing discrimination and intentional disinvestment.

The need for food assistance East of the River is also reflected in ward-level data. Wards 7 and 8 had a SNAP enrollment rate of 27 percent and 35 percent, respectively, on average from 2019-2023—significantly higher than other wards (Table 1). In the same period, nearly 50 percent and 48 percent of SNAP-enrolled households in Ward 7 and 8, respectively, had a child under the age of 18.^[11] The Council Office of Racial Equity (CORE) projected in 2022 that Give SNAP a Raise would improve food security and health outcomes for Black families.^[12]

Table 1

Funding Give SNAP a Raise Will Help Residents Retain Food Access in the Face of Federal Threats and an Economic Downturn

Federal austerity measures threaten to strip low-income and vulnerable populations of food access support. The reconciliation bill passed in the House of Representatives would require states to cover a portion of SNAP benefits. Covering the cost of just 10 percent of SNAP benefits would cost DC $32 million of the nearly $320 million total cost for fiscal year (FY) 2026.^[13]

These federal cuts to SNAP would come on top of other hits to DC’s economy, including a projected loss of 40,000 DC federal jobs. DC is expected to experience a mild recession in 2026 largely as a result of federal job losses.^[14] Economic downturns disproportionately harm Black and brown communities due to systemic racism, and this time those harms would be coupled with cuts to federal jobs that employ many Black DC residents.^[15] However, the District can alleviate some the programs and services, like local funding for SNAP, that help residents weather difficult economic times. These investments should be paid for by increasing taxes on the District’s wealthiest residents, who will most likely be getting significant federal tax breaks.

Funding Give SNAP a Raise will not only help offset federal SNAP cuts; it can also help stimulate needed economic activity in DC. Every $1 invested in SNAP benefits generates $1.50 of economic activity when households shop at local stores in their communities.^[16] The extra allotment provided to SNAP recipients will be spent at an estimated 400 authorized retail locations in the District.^[17]

SNAP benefits play an integral role in reducing food insecurity, particularly for Black and brown residents, families with children, and seniors. Increasing SNAP allotments through Give SNAP a Raise in FY 2026 will not only shield the District’s most vulnerable residents from food insecurity but also stimulate economic growth during a projected recession. For these reasons, DCFPI urges the Council to allocate $50 million dollars for Give SNAP a Raise.

Thank you for the opportunity to testify. I am happy to take questions.