Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013

Floor Speech

The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 1947) to provide for the reform and continuation of agricultural and other programs of the Department of Agriculture through fiscal year 2018, and for other purposes:

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Madam Chair, today I rise to oppose the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act plan to cut SNAP funding by $20.5 billion over the next ten years

The need for food assistance has increased dramatically during our nation's economic slump. Texas's rate for food insecurity is 27.6%--more than one in four Texas children is food insecure.

The impacts to Texas would be devastating, including 171,000 immediately off of SNAP and the elimination of almost 500 million meals from hungry Texans. In Harris County alone, more than 27,000 children, seniors, and their families would lose SNAP benefits; more than 76 million meals would be eliminated; and the Harris County economy would lose almost $175M in lost food retail dollars.

Meeting the need for food assistance is especially critical for our most vulnerable citizens--pregnant and nursing women, infants, children, and seniors for whom the consequences of hunger and poor nutrition are the most severe. It is critical that we maintain support for the charitable food system and funding for SNAP.

I have been a strong supporter of SNAP in Congress to help those who are food insecure during their time of need. Our office works closely with the Houston Food Bank, the largest in the Country, and the Texas Food Bank Network to help end hunger in America.

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