Media Contact:
Jordan Baker
jbaker@frac.org
980-290-7282
Statement attributable to Crystal FitzSimons, president, Food Research & Action Center (FRAC)
WASHINGTON, August 6, 2026 — The Food Research & Action Center is relieved that Senate Agriculture Committee Chair John Boozman’s (R-AR) flawed Farm Bill did not advance out of committee today. We commend Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) for her leadership in fighting for meaningful investments in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and working to mitigate the harm of the administrative and benefit cost shifts to states enacted through the budget reconciliation law, H.R. 1. We also thank the Senators who did not support the Farm Bill, which did not prioritize both farmers and families and fell far short of reversing the law’s harmful and historic $187 billion in cuts to SNAP.
Already, nearly 5 million people, including children, older adults, people with disabilities, and veterans, have lost access to SNAP since the law was passed last year.
Instead of making meaningful investments in SNAP, Chairman Boozman’s bill would have made some states pay up to 20 percent of SNAP benefit costs beginning fiscal year 2031, placing even greater strain on state budgets and increased pressure for states to cut food access for eligible families. While the proposal and later amendment provided states with one more year to prepare for the new fiscal obligations, it still failed to provide parity with other states that receive two years and leaves the harmful 25 percent increase in administrative costs for states.
While we appreciate Chairman Boozman’s acknowledgment that states need immediate relief from the pressing benefit cost shift, we urge the Senate Agriculture Committee leadership and Congress to continue conversations and look to additional legislative opportunities to reverse the devastating impacts of the looming administrative and program benefit cost shifts to states.
We urge congressional leaders to commit to legislation that supports both families and farmers. That starts with reversing the SNAP cuts and cost shifts in H.R. 1.
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The Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) improves the nutrition, health, and well-being of people struggling against poverty-related hunger in the United States through advocacy, partnerships, and by advancing bold and equitable policy solutions. To learn more, visit FRAC.org and follow us on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky.