I’m growing up in a world where 3 billion people can’t afford healthy food.

This crisis will likely define my generation, affecting everything from climate change to international cooperation and conflict. Good nutrition is foundational to human development, yet malnutrition remains the leading cause of death among children under 5 globally. When children are deprived of vital nutrients early in life, the impacts ripple across generations, harming learning, earning potential and economic development.

Now, Congress is pushing to make the crisis worse, not better.

The House recently passed what’s being called President Trump’s “megabill,” a piece of legislation that provides tax cuts for wealthy Americans with devastating cuts to programs that help working families put food on the table. The bill slashes SNAP (food stamps) by $230 billion over the next decade, affecting millions of Americans who rely on these benefits for nutritious food. Around 41 million Americans receive SNAP benefits every year, and the cuts would shift federal funding burdens to states with no guarantee that states can or will cover the difference.

For Maine, these cuts would be catastrophic. Our state is largely rural, and rural areas depend more heavily on SNAP benefits than urban centers. Some of my classmates’ families likely rely on food assistance, and these cuts could mean families in my school district will struggle even more with food insecurity.

The ripple effect of these may also start to devastate our local economy. Small grocery stores and markets that serve rural Maine communities get significant revenue from SNAP purchases. When SNAP benefits are cut, these stores lose business, leading to closed or reduced hours, which can create food deserts in rural communities that are already underserved.

When federal programs are cut, the burden shifts to local food banks and community organizations, which are already stretched too thin. Nationally, food banks are facing a hunger crisis even during relatively strong economic times. The latest U.S. Department of Agriculture research showed there were 1 million more food-insecure households in 2023 than in 2022.

Maine’s food banks and community organizations, already working overtime to meet growing demand, simply cannot fill a $230 billion gap.

Supporters of these cuts may claim they represent “necessary fiscal responsibility,” arguing that SNAP has grown unsustainably and that shifting costs to states will encourage more efficient administration. This argument misunderstands both economics and human dignity.

Fiscal responsibility supports SNAP funding. Every dollar spent on SNAP generates $1.50 to $1.80 in economic activity, benefiting entire communities. The real fiscal irresponsibility lies in allowing malnutrition to create long-term health care costs and reduced economic productivity that will burden taxpayers for decades.

When children don’t get adequate nutrition, they struggle in school, earn less as adults and require more health care throughout their lives. The short-term “savings” from SNAP cuts will cost more in the long run.

The bill now moves to the Senate, where Republicans can pass it with a simple majority through reconciliation rules. The GOP wants this legislation on Trump’s desk by July 4, 2025, making timing critical.

Maine’s senators need to hear from us. As citizens, we have the power to influence this decision through our voices, but only if we speak now. Call Sen. Collins and Sen. King. Tell them that Maine families, businesses and communities cannot afford these cuts. Bring your community together. When legislators hear from organized citizens, they listen. Politicians need to listen to kids. The future.

I’m part of a generation that inherited a world with exceptional wealth as well as unprecedented hunger. We don’t need to accept this and let generations above us shape our future. SNAP isn’t just a safety net; it’s an investment in human potential and economic growth. Food is a human right.

The question isn’t whether we can afford to maintain SNAP funding. It’s whether we can afford not to.