In mid-May, the House is expected to vote on a Farm Bill that will take food off the tables of very large numbers of families across the country.

The House Farm Bill, H.R.2, would slash the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for more than 1 million low-income, struggling households in order to set up an unproven workforce bureaucracy that would burden states and participants alike. As a result, there would be increased hunger and poverty and reduced economic growth and productivity in communities across the country.

Meanwhile, the Senate is drafting its version of the Farm Bill, and we could see bill development in the Senate in May.

The Farm Bill reauthorizes funding for SNAP along with several other nutrition programs and a multitude of agriculture programs. Under the version voted out of the House Agriculture Committee along party lines, large numbers of working families with children would no longer receive SNAP, and, in turn, many children would be denied access to other essential anti-hunger programs, such as school breakfast and lunch, putting their health and learning at risk.

No amount of reinvestment in an employment and training bureaucracy or other services can make up for this assault on the already limited food budgets of hungry people.

Here’s what you can do:

  • Call your Member of Congress. Call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 to be connected to your representative. Urge him or her to vote “No” on the Farm Bill, H.R. 2
  • Check out FRAC’s Recess Action Alert for resources on the House Farm Bill, a sample letter-to-the-editor, sample tweets, SNAP data in your communities, and other resources.
  • Get vocal on social. Follow FRAC on Twitter and Facebook for news about the proposed Farm Bill, and tweet at your Representatives and Senators to fight a Farm Bill that attacks SNAP.

SNAP is the nation’s first line of defense against hunger and most effective anti-hunger program. Stay tuned for additional ways you can advocate for SNAP during the upcoming Farm Bill fight.