Green Bay – Tonight, State Representative Amaad Rivera-Wagner (D-Green Bay) stood with local leaders, advocates, and community members to condemn the devastating cuts to food assistance and Medicaid included in the federal budget bill pushed by President Trump and Congressional Republicans—known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill.”
“As someone who grew up on SNAP and Medicaid, raised by a homeless teenage mom who did everything she could to keep me safe, this is personal,” said Rep. Rivera-Wagner. “These programs didn’t just feed me—they gave me a shot at a better life. And now, I get to serve the very community that helped raise me. That’s what America is supposed to be about.”
In Wisconsin, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as FoodShare, supports nearly 700,000 residents—27,000 in Brown County alone—providing essential food access while also boosting the state’s economy by over $1.4 billion annually. Brown County received over $52 million in SNAP benefits in 2024. Every dollar invested in SNAP returns $1.50 in local economic activity.
But under Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” over 90,000 Wisconsinites could lose access to this critical lifeline. Medicaid is also on the chopping block, further endangering families, seniors, and people with disabilities.
“In Green Bay, we believe in taking care of one another. That means fighting to ensure no child goes to bed hungry, no senior is left without medicine, and no working family has to choose between groceries and rent,” Rivera-Wagner continued. “We shouldn’t be slamming the door shut behind us—especially when we know these programs work. I’m living proof of that.”
The Urban Institute has warned that cuts to SNAP and Medicaid will not only increase food insecurity but also harm the broader economy. SNAP is an economic engine—keeping grocery stores open, creating jobs, and helping communities stay afloat in hard times.
Rep. Rivera-Wagner closed with a message of hope : “Maybe the next person receiving SNAP or Medicaid in our community is the next teacher, small business owner, or state representative. These programs aren’t handouts—they’re stepping stones. We need to build people up, not tear the foundation out from under them.”
