Rep. Negrete McLeod Against SNAP Cuts In FARRM Bill

Press Release

Today, Rep. Gloria Negrete McLeod (D-Chino), a member of the House Committee on Agriculture, issued the following statement after the Committee approved H.R. 1947, the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management (FARRM) Act of 2013. Negrete McLeod is one of ten members who voted against the FARRM Act's passage in committee which contains over $20 billion in proposed cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP):

"The Committee's effort to advance a farm bill with significant savings means they will do so by cutting assistance that helps feed working families, children, seniors, veterans and the disabled," said Negrete McLeod.

SNAP is an anti-poverty and anti-hunger program that lifted about 4.7 million Americans above the poverty line in 2011, including 2.1 million children. The bill cuts projected spending in farm and nutrition programs by nearly $40 billion over the next 10 years. Over half, $20.5 billion, would come from cuts in the SNAP program.

During the committee's debate over the bill, Negrete McLeod discussed the impacts it would have to children in her district.

"I am particularly disturbed by the impact these cuts will have to children who participate in free or reduced lunch," explained Negrete McLeod. "In the district I represent, a majority of school age children are on free or reduced lunch programs. As many families struggle to put dinner on the table, most of these children rely on their school lunch. These children deserve to eat. These cuts are deplorable and will have an impact on our future generations."

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