Farm Bill 2013

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Senate and House Move Forward on Farm Bill

During the week of May 13, the Senate and House Agriculture Committees held markups on their respective farm bills (s. 954, H.R. 1947). Follow this link to summaries of both markups and the amendments offered during the markups.

2013 House and Senate Proposals to Cut SNAP

Farm Bill Resources

About the Farm Bill

The Farm Bill is a comprehensive piece of legislation that guides and authorizes funding for most federal farm and food policies, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Every five years, Congress renews the Farm Bill through the reauthorization process. Title IV of the Farm Bill covers domestic food and nutrition and commodity distribution programs. See a list of programs. The last Farm Bill was passed in 2008.

SNAP is one of seven strategies essential for meeting the goal of ending childhood hunger by 2015. SNAP is important because the program is critical to struggling households and to the nation and its economy. When the national economy or a regional, state or area economy is in trouble, the program is among the most effective government responses. It reacts quickly and robustly when economic or natural disasters strike.

The House Agriculture Committee and the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee have jurisdiction over the Farm Bill.

Domestic food and nutrition and commodity distribution programs in the Farm Bill:

For Americans below the Poverty Line:

  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)/Food Stamps
  • The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)

For Seniors:

  • Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP)
  • Seniors Famers’ Markets

For Children and Low Income Families:

  • USDA Snack Program
  • Community Food Project Grants

For American Indians:

  • Food Distribution Programs
  • Natively grown food support
  • For Urban Agriculture:
  • Urban Food Enterprise Development Center

Miscellaneous:

  • Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellowship Program
  • The Mickey Leland International Hunger Fellowship Program
  • The Hunger-Free Communities Collaborative Grant Program
  • The Hunger-Free Communities Infrastructure Grant Program


House Ag Committee cuts = Almost $21 billion over 10 years.

These cuts:

  • Limit state SNAP coordination with LIHEAP (heat and eat) payments;
    • 850,000 households, which include 1.7 million people, primarily in 15 states, could lose $90 in SNAP per month;
  • Restrict the state Categorical Eligibility option to change asset and gross income tests ($11.6 billion cut);
    • 1.8 million individuals per year could lose SNAP benefits (CBO);
    • 210,000 low-income children could lose free school meal access.
    • Eliminate state bonuses for effective SNAP operation ($480 million cut).
  • Eliminate state bonuses for effective SNAP operation ($480 million cut).

Contained in H.R. 1947: Federal Agriculture Reform & Risk Management Act of 2013 (committee passed in May 2013 by a vote of 36-10).


Senate cut = $4.1 billion over 10 years.

The cut:

  • Limits state SNAP coordination with LIHEAP (heat and eat) payments.

Contained in S. 954: The Agriculture Reform Food & Jobs Act of 2013 (committee passed in May 2013 by a vote of 15-5).

Learn more about these cuts: