U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet joined the entire Senate Democratic Caucus to introduce the Restoring Food Security for American Families and Farmers Act of 2025, which would repeal the devastating cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). 

“Across Colorado, families tell me they’re working hard but still can’t keep up with the cost of groceries,” Bennet said. “SNAP is an essential lifeline for more than 600,000 Coloradans. But in a moment of rising need, the devastating cuts Republicans passed this summer are already taking hold, with even deeper reductions ahead. That means parents skipping meals so their kids can eat, seniors choosing between groceries and prescriptions, farmers losing customers, food pantries stretched to the brink, and local grocers seeing fewer sales. This won’t only harm families, it will strain entire communities and local economies. With this bill, we can reverse that damage and make sure Colorado families can put food on the table.” 

SNAP is the nation’s largest food assistance program, serving 42 million Americans. This past July, Republicans voted to strip $186 billion from SNAP, marking the largest cut to the program in history, even as grocery prices rise and tariff costs increase. In Colorado, over 600,000 people – or 10% of the state population – rely on SNAP benefits. 

These cuts will take meals from millions of Americans, including children, seniors, veterans, workers, and people with disabilities, while harming farmers, ranchers, small businesses, and grocers who rely on SNAP dollars. Additionally, this creates a massive unfunded mandate on state governments that could force deep cuts or even eliminate SNAP entirely. 

During the recent government shutdown, the Trump administration illegally attempted to withhold funding for SNAP programs, jeopardizing millions of Americans’ meals. The senators introduced the Keep SNAP and WIC Funded Act to protect Americans’ food access. In October, Hickenlooper also called on the Trump administration to immediately release SNAP benefits. This latest attack on food assistance comes after President Trump signed the Republican-led budget bill into law earlier this summer, which cut billions from SNAP. “We’re the wealthiest country in the world, yet families are struggling to afford groceries,” Hickenlooper said.