Programs that benefit the vulnerable – including those that provide people with food – seem always to be at the top of the list for cuts.

We’re told that these are tough times and everyone must sacrifice, that difficult decisions have to be made. The House Committee on Agriculture exemplified this sad way of thinking earlier this year by advancing a bill to cut the Food Stamp program (now known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP) by $16.5 billion.

The Committee made no cuts to excessive subsidies for agricultural special interests that do not need taxpayer support. Instead, the Committee voted to literally take food out of the mouths of poor families. Millions who today receive a small stipend to help them feed their families would tomorrow not have that benefit.

But as we get beyond the greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression, it is important that we not allow any of our fellow citizens – especially those who have lost their jobs – to be forgotten. The reason that the number of SNAP beneficiaries have increased is that our economy has struggled. And as our economy strengthens, fewer people will need to rely on SNAP and the rolls of beneficiaries will decrease.

I value the fact that in the United States we still have programs that provide a circle of protection for people who fall on hard times. The same spirit of community and generosity that led us to create Social Security, Medicare and school feeding programs gave rise to SNAP. The alternative to these initiatives would be significantly greater levels of hunger and poverty.

To those who say we can’t afford to invest more in anti-hunger programs, I say – we can’t afford not to. Hunger comes with real costs, in terms of avoidable health problems, kids who don’t learn in school, and lost productivity in the workforce.

Some have referred to SNAP as a “handout,” as if anyone would prefer to be on SNAP as opposed to having a job that pays a decent wage. A little-appreciated fact is that millions of people who currently qualify for SNAP benefits are working people. Many even work full time, but still earn so little that they are eligible for benefits. Perhaps it is time to have a long overdue debate about raising the minimum wage – people who work hard for a living shouldn’t have to live in poverty.