Millions of families in the United States have been left hungry and struggling to put food on the table due to the end of the child tax credit, a report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture has revealed. The study, which highlights the dire consequences of this decision, shows that food insecurity spiked by more than 30% among Americans in 2022, with children being the most affected, experiencing a 44% increase in food insecurity.

According to the report, a staggering 30.8 million adults and 13.4 million children found themselves uncertain about having enough food to eat. Shockingly, these figures do not even include the 11.7 million adults and 783,000 children living in households with very low food security, making this the highest spike since the 2008 financial crisis.

The repercussions of this crisis are further magnified by the fact that nearly one in five American households with children struggled with food insecurity in 2022. Adding to the challenges, pandemic-era programs that helped address this issue are reaching their expiration dates. As a result, states with Democratic representation, who were using federal funds to support food programs benefiting children, are running out of resources.

Experts acknowledge that the situation, though already dire, would have been even worse if it weren't for the more expansive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits advocated for by Democrats. Kyle Waide, president and CEO of the Atlanta Community Food Bank, stressed the impact of these benefits in mitigating the crisis.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack issued a statement accompanying the report, calling it "a wake-up call" for those seeking to dismantle anti-poverty and anti-hunger programs. Vilsack emphasized the need to preserve and enhance the safety net for vulnerable families and urged further exploration of social safety net programs, as well as public health and nutrition research.

The end of the child tax credit, combined with rising food costs, has been identified as the primary cause of this surge in food insecurity. The child tax credit, which played a pivotal role in reducing child poverty by 46% in 2021, provided much-needed support and peace of mind to families across the country. However, despite Democratic efforts, the tax credit was allowed to expire at the end of 2021, with Democrat Sen. Joe Manchin's decision to join all Republican senators in letting it lapse.

The urgency to address this crisis has become apparent, and it is crucial for Congress to take action, ensuring the renewal and expansion of child tax credits to support struggling families. In the interim, 15 states have been urged to lead the way in implementing measures to alleviate food insecurity and provide peace of mind to millions of families.