Shown from left are Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (D-NH), Pastor Mark Perkins, program director of the Southern New Hampshire Rescue Mission, Alyssa McKinney, agency relations coordinator for the Hillsborough County Food Bank and Elsy Cipriani, executive director of the New Hampshire Food Pantry. Courtesy photo/Office of Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander

NASHUA – Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (D-NH) recently visited the Nashua Soup Kitchen and Shelter as the organization braces for a possible $300 billion slash to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

“At the Nashua Soup Kitchen and Shelter we are already seeing more families and individuals coming to us for food boxes and hot meals,” said Executive Director Jane Goodman. “SNAP cuts will only drive that demand higher at a time when we’re already struggling to keep our pantry shelves full. SNAP isn’t just a government program, it’s a lifeline. Reducing benefits will deepen hunger and overwhelm food pantries like ours that are working every day to meet growing needs.”

If approved, Goodlander said the reduction would be the largest cut to nutrition assistance in American history. In New Hampshire, there are currently 77,000 residents who rely on SNAP.

In addition, the proposed cut, which would take effect in 2028, would force states to share the hefty cost of SNAP benefits.

“Today, I heard firsthand from the folks on the frontlines of the food insecurity crisis here in New Hampshire. Their stories make it clear, cuts to SNAP and barriers to access nutrition assistance will hurt Granite Staters. I will continue using every tool that I have to prevent these cuts and deliver for our communities,” said Goodlander. “Congress should be doing everything in our power to help lift families up, lower costs and expand access to food assistance. Instead, Republicans are pushing for the biggest cuts to nutrition assistance in American history to pay for trillions of dollars in tax cuts to billionaires and big corporations.”

In response, Goodlander is cosponsoring the Hands Off Medicaid and SNAP Act of 2025. The legislation would amend the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to prohibit federal lawmakers from using the budget reconciliation process to threaten funding and enrollment for Medicaid and SNAP.