NOTE: The federal spending bill that would gut Medicaid and SNAP is due to pass at any moment. There is still time to contact your member of Congress and tell them to vote NO on cuts to these critical programs.
Food is one of our most basic survival needs. Kids cannot grow healthy or learn on an empty stomach. Adults cannot be healthy and earn a living without food. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is our nation’s most effective tool in fighting hunger. Here are five fast facts on why we must save SNAP!
1. SNAP provides food benefits to people with low incomes so they can supplement their grocery budget to afford nutritious food.
This is especially critical now, as inflation has raised grocery prices 27% over the past five years, setting affordable food even further out of reach for families already struggling to get by.
2. SNAP — as well as Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and other federal nutrition programs — support children, older adults, veterans, people with disabilities and millions of Americans who work in jobs that don’t pay enough to cover basic needs. In Michigan alone:
More than 1.4 million Michiganders (1 in 7) participate in SNAP.
- 1 in 10 Michigan workers uses SNAP to feed their families.
- The majority of SNAP participants who can work, do. Roughly 4 in 5 Michigan SNAP families have at least one working person.
- 39,000 veterans in Michigan participate in SNAP. Michigan consistently has one of the highest rates of SNAP participation by veterans in the nation.
- 18% of children in Michigan have food insecurity.
- Of the 30 counties in Michigan with the highest percentage of people who use SNAP, 26 are rural counties.
3. Cuts to nutrition programs mean increased health care costs and decreased overall health.
- People in food-insecure households spend about $6,100 on medical care annually: 45% more than people in food-secure households.
- For adults, SNAP is associated with fewer missed days of work, fewer doctor’s office visits and better mental health.
- Adult SNAP participants with low incomes have annual health care costs nearly 25% (about $1,400) lower than non-participants with low incomes.
- Health care savings among those with hypertension are nearly $2,700/year.
- Health care savings among those with coronary heart disease are about $4,100/year.
- Babies whose mothers have access to SNAP during pregnancy are less likely to be born with low birthweight.
- Seniors who use SNAP are:
- More likely to use medications prescribed to them because they don’t have to forgo medicine to buy food.
- 23% less likely to be admitted to a nursing home.
- Less likely to need hospitalization.
- SNAP benefits prevent asthma complications for children by freeing up resources that families can then direct toward their children’s medication. Asthma is the most common chronic childhood health condition in the U.S. and one of the top health-related causes of school absenteeism.
- Nutrition programs like SNAP have an outsized impact in rural communities, where agriculture/food processing is a larger sector of the economy and SNAP dollars are crucial to the survival of grocery stores.
4. The war on SNAP is cruel and only causes more harm to families and communities.
Taking food away from people does nothing to help them find jobs, achieve self-sufficiency or rein in health care spending. As hunger continues to rise, federal nutrition cuts don’t save money; they just shift costs onto states, local governments and community service providers. It is proven that SNAP is an investment in our future: Every $1 invested in children through SNAP provides a long-term return of $62.
5. Time is running out to save SNAP.
Take action now by clicking here.
Learn more about the threats to SNAP and download slides to share on social media here.
Jay Cutler joined the League in March 2026 as the Kids Count Senior Data Analyst, where he collects, analyzes, and prepares data for Kids Count in Michigan.
Danielle Taylor-Basemore joined the League as the Development Data and Stewardship Coordinator in June 2025. She brings with her five years of nonprofit experience with a special focus on community engagement, data visualization and strategic programming. Prior to joining the League, Danielle served as the Business District, Safety, and Digital Manager at Jefferson East, Inc.
Scott Preston is a Senior Policy Analyst with the Michigan League for Public Policy, where he leads the organization’s immigration and criminal justice reform portfolios. In the three years prior to joining the League, Scott facilitated the Southeast Michigan Refugee Collaborative and managed a small business economic development program at Global Detroit. His work included launching Michigan’s first Refugee Film Festival and building on a trusted connector model that linked marginalized communities with crucial resources. Scott’s work at the League is informed by his background in journalism and research. He spent four years covering the Syrian refugee crisis in the Middle East for publications such as The Economist, and later worked with unaccompanied refugee minors through Samaritas. Scott holds a master’s degree in international migration and public policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Kate Powers joined the League as the Chief Development Officer in February 2025. Prior to joining the League, Kate held leadership positions at many Michigan nonprofit organizations, most recently serving as the COO and Chief Development Officer of Ele’s Place. Kate has spent the bulk of her career in fundraising, with a short stint in the state Legislature as a legislative aide to members in both chambers. Kate is a graduate of Michigan State University’s James Madison College with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Relations and has a certificate in fundraising management from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. Additionally, Kate served on the East Lansing Public Schools Board of Education and is a past President of the Junior League of Lansing. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband and her son and saving outfit of the day and home decor ideas on Pinterest. 
Nicholas Hess joined the League as the Fiscal Policy Analyst in September of 2024. In this role, Nicholas focuses on tax policy, government revenue, and their impact on working families and racial equity, including the effects of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC). Nicholas values the role that judicious fiscal policy can play in the improvement of people’s lives and the economy, alleviating inequities along the way.
Audrey Matusz joined the League as the Visual Communications Specialist in September 2024. She supports the team with implementing social media strategies and brainstorming creative ways to talk about public policy. She brings with her nearly a decade of experience in producing digital products for evidence-based social justice initiatives. 
Jacob Kaplan 
Donald Stuckey 
Alexandra Stamm 
Amari Fuller
Mikell Frey is a communications professional with a passion for using the art of storytelling to positively impact lives. She strongly believes that positive social change can be inspired by the sharing of data-driven information coupled with the unique perspectives of people from all walks of life across Michigan, especially those who have faced extraordinary barriers. 
Yona Isaacs (she/hers) is an Early Childhood Data Analyst for the Kids Count project. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience at the University of Michigan, she began her career as a research coordinator in pediatric psychiatry using data to understand the impacts of brain activity and genetics on children’s behavior and mental health symptoms. This work prompted an interest in exploring social determinants of health and the role of policy in promoting equitable opportunities for all children, families, and communities. She returned to the University of Michigan to complete her Masters in Social Work focused on Social Policy and Evaluation, during which she interned with the ACLU of Michigan’s policy and legislative team and assisted local nonprofit organizations in creating data and evaluation metrics. She currently serves as a coordinator for the Michigan Center for Youth Justice on a project aiming to increase placement options and enhance cultural competency within the juvenile justice system for LGBTQIA+ youth. Yona is eager to put her data skills to work at the League in support of data-driven policies that advocate for equitable access to healthcare, education, economic security, and opportunity for 0-5 year old children. In her free time, she enjoys tackling DIY house projects and trying new outdoor activities with her dog.
Rachel Richards rejoined the League in December 2020 as the Fiscal Policy Director working on state budget and tax policies. Prior to returning to the League, she served as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Michigan Department of Treasury, the tax policy analyst and Legislative Director for the Michigan League for Public Policy, and a policy analyst and the Appropriations Coordinator for the Democratic Caucus of the Michigan House of Representatives. She brings with her over a decade of experience in policies focused on economic opportunity, including workforce issues, tax, and state budget.
Simon Marshall-Shah joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a State Policy Fellow in August 2019. His work focuses on state policy as it relates to the budget, immigration, health care and other League policy priorities. Before joining the League, he worked in Washington, D.C. at the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), providing federal policy and advocacy support to nonprofit, Medicaid health plans (Safety Net Health Plans) related to the ACA Marketplaces as well as Quality & Operations.
Renell Weathers, Michigan League for Public Policy (MLPP) Community Engagement Consultant. As community engagement consultant, Renell works with organizations throughout the state in connecting the impact of budget and tax policies to their communities. She is motivated by the belief that all children and adults deserve the opportunity to achieve their dreams regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or economic class.
Emily Jorgensen joined the Michigan League for Public Policy in July 2019. She deeply cares about the well-being of individuals and families and has a great love for Michigan. She is grateful that her position at the League enables her to combine these passions and work to help promote policies that will lead to better opportunities and security for all Michiganders.
Megan Farnsworth joined the League’s staff in December 2022 as Executive Assistant. Megan is driven by work that is personally fulfilling, and feels honored to help support the work of an organization that pushes for more robust programming and opportunities for the residents of our state. She’s excited and motivated to gain overarching knowledge of the policies and agendas that the League supports.
