Ensure America keeps investing in rural Pennsylvania | Opinion
Our small towns and rural communities are the backbone of Pennsylvania in many ways, but politicians in Washington are putting them at risk. Right now, Congress is considering deep cuts to programs like Medicaid and SNAP, vital lifelines that keep hospitals open and food on the table for thousands of families right here in Pennsylvania’s 15th Congressional District. It’s essential for us in District 15 to understand how these programs enrich North-Central Pennsylvania and reclaim the wealth Washington has been extracting for years.
We know firsthand the challenges rural communities face. Our district — stretching from the New York border down to just outside Harrisburg — is rich in agriculture, small businesses and strong civic traditions. Groups like the Pennsylvania State Grange, which has served rural Pennsylvanians for 150 years, understand that investing in rural America is investing in the future.
Cuts to SNAP and Medicaid would be devastating for District 15. As manufacturing jobs have moved overseas and farms have been consolidated, rural Americans have been most affected. Nationally, SNAP participation was highest among households in rural counties (16%) and small towns (15%), compared to metro counties (13%).
About 15% of our local households use SNAP to help put food on the table, with one-third of those benefits going to children under the age of 18. This assistance ensures that children and those in need in our community can focus on improving their lives, instead of worrying about how they will eat that evening. In 2024 alone, $4.27 billion in SNAP benefits were spent across Pennsylvania — money that supports not just families, but local grocery stores, farmers and truckers. If these funds disappear, our entire regional economy will feel it.
Medicaid is equally critical. Rural hospitals — already stretched thin — depend heavily on Medicaid to stay open. Without it, we risk even more hospital closures, longer drives for emergency care, and worsening health outcomes for our friends and neighbors. One-third of rural Americans already say they don’t have enough hospitals nearby. We can’t afford to lose more.
Congressman Glenn Thompson needs to remember that these programs aren’t giveaways — they’re investments in the people who power this country. They ensure rural Pennsylvania, his neighbors and friends, remain strong, healthy and resilient.
We urge Rep. Thompson and all of Congress to reject cuts to SNAP and Medicaid. Rural communities deserve better than being left behind.