Vermont Senator Criticizes Cuts in Food Program

Vermont U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders says cuts in a federal emergency hunger program have resulted in a 50 percent reduction in food supplies from that program for the Vermont Foodbank.

Sanders, who calls the situation "unconscionable," appeared Tuesday with representatives from the Vermont Foodbank and Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf to highlight the issue.

The Emergency Food Assistance Program provides food at no cost to low-income Americans in need of short-term hunger relief, through organizations like the Vermont Foodbank.

During fiscal 2012, the Foodbank saw a 50 percent reduction in its allotment of food from that program, amounting to a drop of more than 1 million pounds of food.

Sanders says more cuts likely are coming that could affect food stamps and other programs.

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