FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 2025
CONTACT: press@opportunitywisconsin.org
NEW: Rep. Van Orden admits his vote to cut SNAP will take food from Wisconsin kids
“The bill introduces new work requirements for SNAP and changes the dependent age from 18 to 7 . . . Van Orden explained children are supported until first grade."
MADISON, Wis. – In case you missed it, Congressman Derrick Van Orden admitted that the Republican Tax Scam, which passed thanks to his deciding vote, will actually cut SNAP benefits for Wisconsin families with kids.
In a recent interview with WQOW, Van Orden stood by his support for new bureaucratic requirements that could limit benefits to families with children. According to the report, “Van Orden explained children are supported until first grade.” Previously, Van Orden has falsely claimed the bill would not jeopardize SNAP or Medicaid benefits.
“Congressman Van Orden has finally admitted what experts and nonpartisan officials have been saying for months: The bill he voted for will leave Wisconsin kids hungry thanks to massive cuts to SNAP,” said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. “Van Orden and Republicans in Congress are willing to sacrifice food for kids after first grade just to give new tax breaks to billionaires and big corporations who are already well-off. We expect our elected officials to look out for families and make sure they have the ability to succeed; this bill does the opposite.”
The bill makes massive cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and other critical programs that help Wisconsin families, veterans, and seniors access basic necessities, all to pay for tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy. The GOP Tax Scam, passed by Republicans in the House with Van Orden casting the deciding vote, makes massive cuts to the SNAP program. Under just one provision alone, 114,000 Wisconsinites, including families with children, seniors, and veterans, could lose access to food. In addition to taking food away from Wisconsinites, the state could be forced to come up with $315 million a year in SNAP costs, as estimated by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
See more of Van Orden’s response and WQOW’s coverage below:
Transcript: “The bill also adds new work requirements to receive SNAP benefits. It also changes the dependent age for SNAP benefits. It changes them from 18 to 7 years old. I asked the congressman what the thought process was behind that change, he told me they wanted to make sure kids are taken care of up to first grade. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has said the state will lose more than 300 million dollars in food assistance. The state's Medicaid director has said these changes could cause 90,000 Wisconsinites to lose some or all assistance.
WQOW: Van Orden on SNAP, Medicaid, the 'Big Beautiful Bill' and town halls
Currently, all benefit costs and half of the administration costs are covered by the federal government. Under the newly passed bill each state will now have to take on 5% of the benefit costs for SNAP and 75% of the administration costs.
Rep. Derrick Van Orden of Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District voted in favor of the bill. Van Orden has been firm that he would not vote to cut Medicaid or SNAP benefits for anyone. 18 News asked him how the federal government not contributing as much to SNAP in this bill is not a cut.
The bill introduces new work requirements for SNAP and changes the dependent age from 18 to 7. Someone caring for a child under 7 will not have the work requirements.
Van Orden explained children are supported until first grade.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services reports that the state may lose over $300 million in food assistance under this bill.
The state's Medicaid director warned that these changes could impact 90,000 Wisconsinites, potentially reducing or eliminating their assistance.
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