Cho: God calls on us to care for our neighbors in need. The budget reconciliation bill fails that test.

MCALLEN, Texas – The Rio Grande Guardian recently penned a guest column from Felipe Salinas, a member of and advocate for Bread for the World, and managing partner of Contexto Consulting, LLC.

The column focused on a recent visit Salinas made to Washington, D.C., with a few colleagues from the Rio Grande Valley. The main purpose was to attend Bread for the World’s Annual Advocacy Summit. 

At the summit, Salinas received the Rev. David Beckmann Lifetime Hunger Champion award in recognition of his nearly 50 years as a Bread member and advocate. Salinas said the summit was both an “energizing and faith-filled” experience.

In the column, Salinas pointed out that the summit coincided with discussion in Congress of the budget reconciliation bill. Salinas and his colleagues visited U.S. Reps. Vicente Gonzalez and Monica De La Cruz and urged them not to vote for cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Gonzalez voted as Bread for the World wished, which was against the bill. De La Cruz voted for it.

The Rio Grande Valley delegation that attended the 2025 Bread for the World Advocacy Summit are pictured with U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz. Felipe Salinas is pictured second from the left.

Now that the bill has been passed by Congress and signed into law by President Trump, Bread for the World has issued a new statement. It comes from the Rev. Eugene Cho, president and CEO of the non-profit.

“The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the United States’ most important anti-hunger program. Each month 42 million people rely on SNAP to put food on the table. Forty percent of SNAP recipients are children,” Cho said.

“Medicaid provides health care for roughly 70 million low-income, elderly, and disabled Americans, as well as nearly half of all children in the United States. Studies show that households with children who participate in Medicaid experience significant reductions in food insecurity.

 “We need to be clear eyed and honest – this bill’s passage will significantly increase hunger in the United States. The unprecedented funding cuts enacted in the bill will bring harm to children, families, and vulnerable adults. Additionally, these cuts will have a ripple effect, impacting farmers, small business owners, hospitals, and even entire communities.”

Cho points out that the budget reconciliation bill cuts SNAP funding by close to $200 billion over ten years. The bulk of the funding cuts come from pushing a portion of SNAP costs on to states, expanding strict work requirements, and banning refugees and others here lawfully for humanitarian reasons from receiving SNAP. As a result, Cho said, close to three million people could lose their SNAP benefits. 

Cho said the new law will also freeze future benefit increases through the Thrifty Food Plan. He said the bill also cuts Medicaid funding by $1 trillion and makes significant changes to the program – including adding additional work requirements. Cho said an estimated 17 million people could lose their Medicaid coverage now that the bill has passed.

Cho said that over the past several months, Bread has worked tirelessly to stop the steep SNAP and Medicaid funding cuts. He pointed out that Bread members and supporters have sent tens of thousands of emails, held hundreds of congressional meetings, and made numerous phone calls urging their members of Congress to reject the cuts.

“God calls on us to care for our neighbors in need. This bill fails that test. Bread will not stop until Congress restores full funding for these vital programs,” Cho added.

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