I am writing as your constituent to urge you to fully address the $420 million SNAP shortfall in North Carolina caused by the One Big Beautiful Bill. I recognize the General Assembly is staring down the barrel of a tremendously difficult fiscal decision, determining how to allocate limited resources across critical needs. But SNAP is not an optional program—it is a lifeline.
Today, some 1.4 million North Carolinians rely on SNAP to put food on the table. That includes over 600,000 children who deserve every chance to grow, learn, and thrive, and 159,000 seniors who have worked their entire lives and now rely on a modest food benefit to maintain their dignity. These are not numbers—they are neighbors, classmates, and loved ones in every community across our state.
I am especially concerned about the possibility that the burden of this shortfall could be pushed down to counties like mine. Our local governments already struggle to meet residents’ needs with limited tax bases. Transferring this responsibility would not only be unsustainable, it would also deepen inequities between wealthier and less-resourced counties. Food security should not depend on ZIP codes.
I urge you to ensure that the General Assembly identifies state-level funding to bridge this gap in full, rather than shifting costs to local governments. Doing so honors both our fiscal responsibility and our moral obligation to protect the most vulnerable among us.
North Carolina has long prided itself on caring for its communities, even in lean times. I ask that you uphold that tradition by standing strong for SNAP funding and the people who depend on it.
Thank you for your service and your consideration of this vital issue.
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