Rep. Pettersen Votes Against Republican Funding Bill that Slashes Food Assistance for Families

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) voted against House Republicans' Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies funding bill that cuts nutrition assistance programs that millions of families, children, and seniors rely on while reducing investments in rural communities.

Rep. Pettersen offered an amendment highlighting the $200 million House Republicans cut from WIC which ensures pregnant women, new mothers, babies, and young children continue receiving the full benefits they rely on to put healthy food on the table. Republicans rejected the amendment.

"At a time when families are already struggling to afford groceries, Republicans are taking food away from moms, babies, and children," said Pettersen. "Instead of doing anything that would actually help families and farmers struggling with rising costs from Trump's tariff regime and his illegal war in Iran, this bill completely rips the rug out from under them. If Republicans cared about lowering costs, they would have supported my amendment to protect the programs our most vulnerable families depend on. Unfortunately, they refused to even hold a vote. This is just another example of their backwards agenda that consistently puts the American people last."

Specifically, House Republicans' funding bill would:

• Increase costs for farmers and rural communities by steeply cutting critical investments, including water and waste grants to help the poorest communities get safer water services, and slashing the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) loans in half;

• Cuts WIC by $200 million, threatening full fruit and vegetable benefits for pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and young children who rely on the program for healthy food and nutrition support;

  • WIC served nearly 7 million women and children in 2025.

• Locks in a $6 billion cut to SNAP made under Republicans' "One Big Beautiful Bill," reducing food assistance available to low-income families, seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities at a time when grocery prices are skyrocketing.

A full summary of the bill can be found HERE.

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