Contact:
Emily Pickren
epickren@frac.org
202-640-1118
Statement attributed to James D. Weill, President, Food Research & Action Center (FRAC).
WASHINGTON, June 28, 2018 — Today, the Senate passed a Farm Bill that keeps food in the refrigerators and on the tables of struggling individuals and families. FRAC commends the Senate for passing a bill that protects Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit levels and eligibility for so many people in need — children, seniors, people with disabilities, working families and those seeking work, veterans, and others.
We applaud the 68 Senators who voted to table a harmful amendment to the bill that would have worsened hunger by imposing harsher work rules on struggling people and requiring food retailers to check photo identification for SNAP EBT card customers, among other provisions.
We are heartened that the Senate Farm Bill takes a vastly different approach than the House Farm Bill, which would cut SNAP eligibility and benefits for many and would even cause many children in SNAP households to lose their direct connection to free school meals.
As the legislative process continues and the Senate and House work toward a conference report, FRAC will continue to urge policymakers to protect and strengthen SNAP and reject the House Farm Bill. We all want a Farm Bill that protects and strengthens SNAP, one of the most efficient and effective solutions to ending hunger and poverty in America.
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The Food Research & Action Center is the leading national nonprofit organization working to eradicate poverty-related hunger and undernutrition in the United States.
