Testimony of
Deacon David Reynolds
Associate Director of Public Policy
in Support of S.B. 497
AN ACT PROTECTING FOOD SECURITY FOR VETERANS AND OTHERS AND MITIGATING FEDERAL CUTS TO NUTRITIONAL ASSISTANCE
Human Services Committee
Public Hearing
March 17, 2026
The Connecticut Catholic Public Affairs Conference, which represents the Catholic Bishops of Connecticut, supports S.B. 497 An Act Protecting Food Security for Veterans and Others and Mitigating Federal Cuts to Nutritional Assistance. The new federal restrictions and elimination of various exemptions within the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will result in ten-of-thousands of Connecticut residents losing benefits over the next year. These cuts will only result in higher food insecurity in our state.
On October 16, 2025, World Food Day, Pope Leo XIV expressed, “Hunger… is a cry that rises to heaven and requires a swift response from every nation, every international organization, every regional, local or private body. No one can remain on the sidelines in the fight against hunger.”[1] In this spirit, Catholic parishes and dioceses within Connecticut have made every effort to address hunger within our communities and state. During the government shutdown in late 2025, the Archdiocese of Hartford made an emergency allocation of $500,000 to feed the hungry due to the potential shutdown of SNAP. We also see these efforts made by many other communities of faith to fulfill this basic call of our faith, feed the hungry.
Despite these charitable efforts the food crisis in our state cannot be met by charity alone. The Conference supports the establishment of a $40 million account to assist those who are targeted for losing their SNAP benefits under “The Big Beautiful Bill”. We realize some will defend these changes as a way to stop abuse within SNAP and the state should not interfere with these efforts. Unfortunately, the federal changes come with administrative difficulties and a board approach that will end up denying food to those truly in need. The state of Connecticut can increase its own efforts to monitor abuse without needlessly cutting of food resources to those the system is met to aid.
The Conference asks all of the Human Services Committee members to join with us in a shared commitment to the words of the Gospel, “feed the hungry”. Support of S.B. 497 is support for the common good of our state.
[1] Pope Leo XIV, Visit of the Holy Father to the FAO Headquarters on the Occasion of World Food Day
and the Celebration of the Eightieth Anniversary of the Foundation of the organization (Oct 16, 2025). https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/speeches/2025/october/documents/20251016-fao.html