美国国家公共电台 NPR--Millions who get SNAP food assistance are about to see a reduction in their benefits

Millions who get SNAP food assistance are about to see a reduction in their benefits

Transcript¹

Millions of Americans next month will see a decrease in federal food assistance. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits that were boosted during the pandemic are going away.

A MART?NEZ, HOST:

Most federal pandemic assistance is coming to an end. That means millions who qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, will be losing benefits. Here's NPR's Allison Aubrey.

ALLISON AUBREY, BYLINE²: As the pandemic SNAP benefits are phased out, people will receive about $90 less each month on average. Some households will see a cut of up to $250 a month. Carlis Ferris (ph) is in her mid-60s. She's retired³ and lives in Columbus, Ohio. She says what started as pandemic relief went on to be inflation relief as groceries became much more expensive.

CARLIS FERRIS: For me, personally, when they reduce these food stamps next month, it's going to be a lot harder.

AUBREY: Social Security is her main source of income. And though there's been a cost-of-living adjustment, Ferris says it has not kept up with an increase in rent and utilities. The extra SNAP benefits have helped her eat well and preserve her Social Security for other expenses. But now she'll have to cut back. One strategy is to stock up on cheaper foods like crackers⁴, bread and rice, which she doesn't want to do because she knows it's not a healthy way to eat.

FERRIS: The cheapest stuff is the less healthier stuff. I learned that because I gained a whole lot of weight eating on the more cheaper stuff, like the starches⁵ and the crackers. And now that I've gotten myself into a better weight size, I'm going to have to figure that out.

AUBREY: More than 40 million people in the U.S. are helped out each month by SNAP. Some states have already ended pandemic benefits. And next month, remaining states and territories will do the same. Dorothy Rosenbaum, a senior policy analyst⁶ at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

DOROTHY ROSENBAUM: This is a change that will increase hardship for many individuals and families, especially given the modest amount of regular SNAP benefits, which are only about $6 per person per day on average.

AUBREY: She says what may help cushion the blow is the cost of living increases built into SNAP and other adjustments to help the program keep up with inflation and help people afford healthy food. Even so, at the start of the pandemic, nearly 9.5 million older adults aged⁷ 50 and up were considered food insecure, meaning they sometimes struggle to afford all the food they need. This year, as lawmakers in Congress begin to reauthorize the Farm Bill, which includes review of the SNAP program, Rosenbaum says they have an opportunity to improve it.

ROSENBAUM: I think it's important for lawmakers to prioritize protecting and strengthening SNAP rather than proposing further reductions.

AUBREY: At a time when, according to the CDC, many children don't eat fruits and vegetables every day but do consume plenty of sugary drinks, the Alliance to End Hunger is focused on ways to expand programs that promote healthy options. Here's executive director Eric Mitchell.

ERIC MITCHELL: Being able to use SNAP benefits at your local farmers' markets, as well as, you know, creating what we call food pharmacies⁸, so that way you can use your SNAP benefits to be able to purchase healthy foods to help improve your health care outcomes.

AUBREY: He says there are far too many people struggling with food insecurity. For instance, at the Mid-Ohio Food Collective, the head of communication for the food bank says they've seen an alarming increase in need. Carlis Ferris says she'll rely on the food bank for some basics come next month.

FERRIS: I think there's going to be a whole lot of people in need. And a lot of people are going to have to go to the food banks. You have no other choice.

AUBREY: With pandemic benefits ending, the Mid-Ohio Food Collective is bracing⁹ for more demand.

Allison Aubrey, NPR News.

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1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

3 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

4 crackers   

adj.精神错乱的，癫狂的n.爆竹( cracker的名词复数 )；薄脆饼干；（认为）十分愉快的事；迷人的姑娘

参考例句：

• That noise is driving me crackers. 那噪声闹得我简直要疯了。
• We served some crackers and cheese as an appetiser. 我们上了些饼干和奶酪作为开胃品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 starches   

n.淀粉( starch的名词复数 )；含淀粉的食物；浆粉v.把（衣服、床单等）浆一浆( starch的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• You should avoid sugars and starches. 你应避免吃糖和含淀粉的食物。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Cotton and rayon yarns are most often sized with water-insoluble starches. 棉和人造丝纱多用不溶于水的淀粉上浆。 来自互联网

6 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

7 aged   

adj.年老的，陈年的

参考例句：

• He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了，也老点了。
• He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老，然而记忆力还好。

8 pharmacies   

药店

参考例句：

• Still, 32 percent of the pharmacies filled the prescriptions. 但仍然有32%的药剂师配发了这两张药方。 来自互联网
• Chinese herbal pharmacies, and traditional massage therapists in the Vancouver telephone book. 中药店，和传统的按摩师在温哥华的电话簿里。 来自互联网

9 bracing   

adj.令人振奋的

参考例句：

• The country is bracing itself for the threatened enemy invasion. 这个国家正准备奋起抵抗敌人的入侵威胁。
• The atmosphere in the new government was bracing. 新政府的气氛是令人振奋的。