New York Times - Farm Bill and SNAP

Op-Ed

Dear Colleague,

As you may know, the U.S. Senate is currently debating their version of the Farm Bill and the House Agriculture Committee may mark up a different version of the Farm Bill before the July 4th recess. The Senate bill cuts the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as Food Stamps, by $4.5 billion and the House version may cut even more. I write to urge you to stand with me in opposing any cuts to this important safety-net program. Some have said that cuts to SNAP will not reduce the benefits low-income families rely on to feed themselves, but this is simply not the case. The truth is that SNAP is the most effective and efficient federal program. Senator Gillibrand is currently leading the effort in the Senate to eliminate the SNAP cuts in the Senate Farm Bill and I encourage you to read the editorial in today's New York Times endorsing her amendment restoring these cuts. I also ask that you stand with me in opposing any cuts to SNAP in the House version of the Farm Bill.

Sincerely,

James. P. McGovern
Member of Congress

Source