Hunger. A forgotten topic at the State of the Union.

January 31, 2018 – In his State of the Union address Tuesday night, President Trump strove for bipartisanship, made several good points, and touched on topics important to people in Oregon who face a difficult time having enough to eat. Sadly, hunger and food insecurity—which inflict more than 40 million Americans, including hundreds of thousands of Oregonians—went unmentioned.

The president touted the recently passed tax bill. But we have several concerns about the bill. First, it scarcely benefits those with modest incomes. In fact, millions will see their taxes rise. Second, it raises the deficit by more than $1.5 trillion—creating pressure to cut critical programs that strengthen our communities—including SNAP (commonly known as food stamps), Medicaid, and Medicare. Third, it will lead to 13 million fewer people having the protection of health insurance and a 10 percent increase in health care premiums for those who participate in the individual market. Last, the bill will likely lower contributions to charities—the very organizations that people who have lost assistance will be forced to turn to.

The president’s mention of “welfare to work” was also troubling. Too often, it is simply code for cuts and harmful changes to nutrition assistance, health coverage, and other supports that help everyday families make ends meet. These folks already face significant obstacles to getting back on their feet. Work requirements wouldn’t create jobs or raise anyone’s wages; they would be yet another challenge to overcome.

Finally, despite the ambitious rhetoric, our federal government remains in a state of gridlock. A third of the way through the fiscal year, Congress and the president have yet to pass a final budget. The DACA issue remains unresolved, as well as important disaster relief and community health center funding—leaving Americans in a state of anxiety. This is no way to run a government.

We call on the president and Congress, to resolve their differences and look out for everyday Americans, especially those who struggle to meet their basic needs…because no one should be hungry.