CONGRESSMAN PAT RYAN RELEASES INITIAL SURVEY RESULTS SHOWING IMMENSE FINANCIAL PRESSURE ON HUDSON VALLEY FAMILIES FOLLOWING TRUMP’S TARIFFS, ESCALATES FIGHT TO PASS “LOWER GROCERY PRICES ACT”
Congressman Pat Ryan Releases Initial Survey Results Showing Immense Financial Pressure on Hudson Valley Families Following Trump’s Tariffs, Escalates Fight to Pass “Lower Grocery Prices Act”
As cost-raising tariffs continue to hurt American consumers and small business owners, and as families face uncertainty regarding the future of their SNAP benefits following the largest cut to the program in history, Congressman Ryan released a survey seeking constituent input on how high grocery costs are impacting Hudson Valley families
According to new polling, 87% of Americans now say they’ve noticed higher grocery prices since Trump took office; more than 99% of respondents to Ryan’s survey said they were feeling the burden of higher grocery prices, with 75% citing Trump’s tariffs as the main driver
Ryan is taking the results back to Washington to escalate his fight to pass his bipartisan “Lower Grocery Prices Act,” landmark legislation introduced as part of his Affordability Agenda – Ryan’s first legislation of the 119th Congress
WASHINGTON, DC – As Hudson Valley families continue to face increasing food costs Congressman Pat Ryan is escalating his push to pass his bipartisan “Lower Grocery Prices Act.” Today, Ryan is releasing initial results of his survey asking Hudson Valley families: “How are you being impacted by the rising cost of groceries?”
According to CBS polling ahead of Thanksgiving, 65% of Americans now say Trump’s policies are driving up grocery prices. Ryan’s survey yielded similar results, with more than 99% of respondents noting a rise in their grocery costs. Trump’s tariffs were the number one reported cause of the price increases, with more than 75% of respondents citing them, and corporate price gouging was number two. Many respondents said they’re cutting out meat and other costly proteins, with several saying they can no longer afford to maintain dietary restrictions that help manage chronic health conditions. Respondents also reported they’re worried about the potential health impacts of only consuming cheaper, less nutritious foods.
Especially as cost-raising tariffs continue to hurt American consumers and small business owners, and as families face uncertainty regarding the future of their SNAP benefits following the largest cut to the program in history, Ryan will be taking every community response back to Washington to bolster his ongoing fight to bring down costs and ease financial pressure on Hudson Valley families.
Community members can still take Congressman Ryan’s survey on grocery costs here.
“Hudson Valley families have to spend way too much of their income just to put food on the table. This is wrong on every level, and totally unacceptable. That’s why I’m fighting back,” said Congressman Pat Ryan. “The entire Hudson Valley is feeling this – from parents worried their next paycheck won’t be enough to feed their family to seniors on a fixed income forgoing vital nutrients, our community cannot survive like this. Your input has always been the main driver behind everything I do – from cutting through red tape to lower egg prices, to fighting for small businesses in Washington against Trump’s tariff-induced trade war, to introducing the bipartisan “Lower Grocery Prices Act,” I take your concerns to heart and put them into action. The President promised to lower costs on Day 1 – but as he continues to slash food assistance, blow taxpayer dollars on foreign bailouts, and impose tariff wars that are crushing our local economies, our community deserves the relief we were promised. I’ll keep pushing relentlessly to ease the burden on hardworking Americans, and build the more affordable Hudson Valley all our families deserve.”
More than 99% of respondents to Congressman Ryan’s survey reported they’re feeling the burden of increased grocery prices. Especially following the largest cut to SNAP in history, hardworking people are simply unable to afford to feed their families. The most common responses included people not buying fresh produce or meat, forgoing essential nutrients and protein.
“Our grocery bills have doubled, causing us to eat less protein, pick cheaper ingredients, and be careful about what produce we can afford. We have good jobs, too - I don’t know how others are managing,” said Kait Hoehne of Pine Bush. “I grew up without much and worked hard to avoid having to ever penny pinch over groceries again – I never thought I’d be back in the same situation.”
“My SNAP allowance covers fewer and fewer items as prices rise, so I end up buying and eating less,” said Erin Schick of Chester. “I have gone from relying on the monthly food bank for a few items to considering it a key source of nutrition.”
“The increases in grocery prices have left us scrambling to afford food after paying our other bills,” said Alyssa, a constituent in Newburgh. “I’m pregnant and expecting a little one in three months, but we’re still told we make too much for food assistance. I didn’t get a raise last year and am not expecting one this year, either. How are we supposed to live if our paychecks aren’t keeping up with the price of groceries, rent, and other bills? How can I stretch my paycheck any more? The working class is hurting to the point that there might not be a working class anymore.”
“I am 81 and receive Social Security and Medicare and need an additional health insurance policy, as I am handicapped. With the increase in grocery prices, I’ve had to cut back to only staple foods,” said Eunice Crudele of Mountainview. “Good coffee is now maybe an extra “treat” every once in a while.”
“My husband is disabled, so my family relies on my income alone. It’s getting harder and harder to make ends meet,” said a constituent in Poughkeepsie. “As grocery prices continue to rise, I have to decide between keeping our house, paying the electric bill, or feeding my family. With the increasing costs for groceries, utilities, health care, housing, and more, families are drowning.”
“I’m a senior citizen on a limited income. I’m now paying over $125 per week on groceries that used to cost between $90 to $100,” said Sue, a constituent in Beacon. “I also help my granddaughter and her family who just lost their SNAP benefits.”
“I’m a senior citizen who needs to eat healthy foods to manage my diabetes, but many of these foods that are essential for me are now priced like luxury items,” said Carmen, a constituent in Dutchess County. “This Administration is cutting off access to the food people need. I can only afford to buy the essentials at this point, I’m worried about how I’m going to buy Christmas gifts for my great-nieces and nephews.”
“We are very, very frustrated with what the purchasing power of our hard-earned money has become with the increasing cost of groceries – and this is just to purchase necessities,” said the Galaviz Family of New Windsor. “The price of coffee has increased and that’s just the beginning of the day. Milk, eggs, fruits, and vegetables all are increasing in price. We can’t keep up with skyrocketing prices – one income just isn’t enough anymore. All this is happening while corporate CEOs get millions of dollars in bonuses. As consumers, we have no other choices because these are needs, not wants. Food is essential and should be protected from corporate greed.”
“Luckily we can afford to buy sufficient food, but I am shocked by the increase in cost. I keep track of our food expenses and with very little difference in our eating habits from last November the cost of our food in November increased by 40%,” said Rachel Kitzinger of Poughkeepsie.
“Prices have risen dramatically and we are limiting our grocery shopping,” said Carol, a constituent in Warwick. “I get a $211 food subsidy from my United Healthcare Part C plan (reducing to $149 in Jan.), and I used to be able to shop 3 times a month on that, and now it lasts only 1 1/2 trips. We are restricting our choices, and eating less. I'm a senior, and work a sporadic part time job, and don't have the money to buy groceries the way we used to.”
“I am the Interim Executive Director of the Food of Life/Comida de Vida Pantry in Amenia Union. Visits to the pantry are up 48% over the same point in 2024. The contrast is stark: only five years ago, we fed about 150 people a week. This year, we’ve fed as many as 982,” said Jim Wright of Amenia. “Personally, the rise in grocery prices isn’t something that a weekly, senior shopper can ignore. Even the Christmas tree we bought today was $20 to $25 more than it cost us a year ago.”
“I am a disabled senior and mostly live alone, but due to the increasing cost of groceries, I have to travel to several different grocery stores to buy items that are on sale. I can no longer buy anything extra – no treats or snacks. The Social Security Cost of Living Adjustment absolutely does not cover the increase in food and energy costs,” said Linda, a constituent in Poughkeepsie. “In many cases, prices have doubled from tariffs and corporations price gouging and taking advantage of tariffs to raise their prices and profits even more.”
“With the rising cost of groceries, we cannot put our health first and buy what is healthy for us each and every week – we have to choose between financial health or physical health,” said Patrick, a constituent in Port Jervis. “Everything is more expensive now and I’ve considered not having children of my own if this continues.”
“Grocery prices have increased higher and faster than my salary has, so much so that it feels like I’ve actually taken a pay cut,” said Karen, a constituent in Wappingers Falls.
The community inquiry comes amidst a myriad of potential food-cost-raising policy moves by the President. Trump recently signed into law the largest cut to SNAP in history – slashing $187 billion from the program that helps feed 42 million Americans. Ryan was an early critic of Trump’s USDA’s slashing of funds for food banks as well. The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) – which partners local farms with food banks to serve food insecure populations – has suffered hundreds of millions of dollars in funding cuts, forcing the Hudson Valley branch of the Regional Food Bank to provide 2 million fewer meals than last year. Additionally, sweeping tariffs are jacking up prices across the board, and putting immense pressure on small business owners who have no choice but to pass the cost onto consumers.
Based on community feedback, Ryan is already leading efforts to hold price gougers accountable, repeal Trump’s tariffs, and lower grocery costs. He introduced his Affordability Agenda as his first legislation of the 119th Congress, which, along with the “Lower Grocery Prices Act” includes bills to bring down drug costs, housing costs, and protect Social Security benefits. The full agenda can be found here.
Congressman Ryan’s “Lower Grocery Prices Act” would require the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to analyze the price of groceries over the last 20 years, provide effective solutions on how to lower costs, and develop a national plan to combat the high prices and ease the affordability crisis. Ryan originally introduced the legislation after the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) released a report in March 2024 which detailed how large grocery companies exploited the high-price environment caused by the pandemic to jack up their prices and pad their profit margins, unfairly raising prices for consumers as well as snubbing smaller competitors’ profits.
Additionally, after a diner owner from Fishkill told Ryan that he went from paying $45 for a single crate of eggs to $260 in only months, immediately took action. Ryan teamed up with Congressman Josh Riley to address concerns regarding the soaring egg prices, introducing “Lowering Egg Prices Act” to cut through bureaucratic red tape to lower costs for consumers and farmers alike.
Most recently, throughout the summer months, Congressman Ryan held community meetings with Chambers of Commerce across Dutchess, Orange, and Ulster Counties to discuss how Trump’s tariffs are harming local business owners and forcing them to raise prices. One small business owner told Ryan that small businesses are “at an enormous disadvantage when pricing of their premium products rises to meet the cost of the tariffs; a cost which will pass through to the American consumer and put small businesses on the line.” Ryan took action in Washington to limit the harmful impacts of the unprecedented tariffs, including joining an effort to terminate the national emergency that the president declared to institute the tariffs. Additionally, Ryan voted against an effort by House GOP leadership and Speaker Mike Johnson to cede their ability to regulate and challenge tariffs to the President – kneecapping Congress’s ability to stand up for their constituents being crushed by high prices.
Ryan constantly seeks community input and personal stories to strengthen his fight for the Hudson Valley in Washington. If you are worried about grocery prices, please take Congressman Ryan’s survey.
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