Kelly Highlights Growing Strain on Arizona Food Banks as SNAP Cuts Leave Families Without Assistance

Nearly 438,000 fewer Arizonans are receiving SNAP benefits than a year ago as food banks across Arizona step up to help families in need

As families across the state lose access to food assistance as a direct result of Republican-passed cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), organizations like the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) are helping people by providing meals, emergency food boxes, and other assistance. According to the latest data from the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES), 471,871 Arizonans received SNAP benefits in June-nearly 438,000 fewer than during the same month last year.

Today, Senator Mark Kelly released the following statement: "Hundreds of thousands of Arizonans are struggling to put food on the table, leaving food banks and organizations like St. Vincent de Paul filling the gap," said Kelly. "They're stepping up for Arizona families, but they shouldn't have to. Republicans voted for this, but I'm going to keep fighting to lower costs and bring relief."

Background:

In 2025, Republicans passed legislation that included nearly $187 billion in cuts to nutrition assistance programs. Throughout the negotiations, Kelly warned that the legislation would slash food assistance and shift significant new costs onto Arizona. He traveled across Arizona to host townhalls in Sierra Vista, Tucson, Phoenix and Clarkdale to hear directly from families about the impact of the cuts and took their stories to the Senate floor. After the cuts became law, Kelly joined Arizona families and food assistance organizations in Phoenix to highlight the growing strain on families and food banks.

Kelly has continued fighting to protect food assistance and lower costs for Arizona families. During the 2025 government shutdown, he pressed the administration to protect SNAP benefits and backed bipartisan legislation to keep SNAP funded. Kelly has also pressed the administration to lower food costs and warned that SNAP cuts hurt families as well as Arizona grocers, farmers, and rural communities.