JERSEY CITY, N.J. – Today, Congresswoman LaMonica McIver (NJ-10) hosted educators, officials, and impacted parents to discuss the devastating impact of the Trump administration’s cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that will cut into school food programs that support New Jersey’s students. Trump’s attacks on school lunch for children are a result of the Big Ugly Bill that made the largest SNAP cut in history—$186 billion—and was signed into law after Republicans passed it in the House and Senate last month.
Clips from the roundtable are available for use here.
The conversation focused on solutions and the fallout for New Jersey students from Trump’s Big Ugly Bill, which was signed by the president earlier this summer. In addition to gutting Medicaid, stripping food assistance programs, and giving massive tax breaks to the richest people and corporations, this Republican law will make it harder for N.J. students to access school meals programs.
“We are at a critical crossroads in our country. The Trump administration is playing partisan games—making restrictions to our budget here in New Jersey, where we had millions set aside in education funding,” said Congresswoman McIver. “We’re going to see cuts to programs such as SNAP and Medicaid, resulting in domino effects for the children we serve. When programs like these are cut, people will be without healthcare and food assistance. It will be a nightmare…For many of our communities, these policies mean life or death.”
“As an educator, I see firsthand what it looks like for a student who is hungry,” said Erika Bermudez, a Jersey City educator and parent. “We know what the cost of food is and how it's impacting our pockets, and I can only imagine how it’s going to impact our students’ abilities to focus.”
“Children are vulnerable,” said Dr. Norma Fernandez, Superintendent of Jersey City Public Schools. “A parent who is worried about where the next meal is coming from is not coming to their children’s schools to talk about the new literacy program—they’re worried about feeding their families, having a roof over their heads.”
McIver was joined at the table by 15 other experts, policymakers, public servants, and community leaders:
- U.S. Congressman Rob Menendez, (NJ-08)
- New Jersey State Senator, Angela McKnight (LD-31)
- Jersey City Public Schools Superintendent, Dr. Norma Fernandez
- New Jersey Department of Agriculture Secretary, Ed Wengryn
- New Jersey Department of Education Commissioner, Kevin Dehmer
- Jersey City Board of Education President, Noemí Velázquez
- Jersey City Division of Food & Nutrition Director, Offer Cohen
- Hunger Free New Jersey Director, Lisa Pitz
- McNair High School Athletic Supervisor, Kristen Hart
- East Orange School District Assistant Business Administrator, Fahim Abedrabbo
- Irvington Public Schools Superintendent, Dr. April Vauss
- Newark Public School District Business Administrator, Valerie Wilson
- Orange Public Schools Assistant Business Administrator, Dwayne Ortiz
- Jersey City parent and teacher, Erika Bermudez
- Hudson County Schools of Technology Food Services Department Staff Member / HCST Alumnus, Kevin Rodriguez
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