Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                   July 11, 2013

CONTACT: Ayofemi Kirby
(202) 226-9776
Ayofemi.Kirby@mail.house.gov

Congressional Black Caucus Statements on Passage of the Farm Bill

Members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) released the following statements today after the House of Representatives passed the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act , H.R. 2642. For the first time in four decades, the bill did not include funding for the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) that helps feed more than 47 million individuals across the country. The CBC was united in its opposition to this bill.

CBC Chairwoman Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11): “Feeding families and farming go hand-in-hand and a comprehensive Farm Bill recognizes this connection.  That connection was broken today, shattering 50 years of bipartisan cooperation that has produced a Farm Bill to meet our nation’s agricultural needs and feed our neediest families.  I deeply regret that the House Republican Leadership chose to advance a bill that deliberately fails to include nutritional programs.

“This short-sighted approach to split the Farm bill is opposed by more than 500 agriculture, conservation, and rural development and crop insurance companies. They too understand why it is important to uphold the link between nutrition and farm communities. Splitting the Farm Bill is opposed by groups such as the AARP, American Farm Bureau Federation and organizations that feed hungry Americans.”

“The American people expect the House to act responsibly. This bill is neither what they need nor is it what they deserve. Moreover, it will never become law. I commend President Obama for indicating he plans to veto this one-sided legislation.”

Rep. Joyce Beatty (OH-03): “Today, House Republicans supported increasing hunger in America. For decades, nutrition programs have been included as an essential portion of the Farm Bill reauthorization. To move forward with legislation that does not include funding for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a shameful abandonment of the most vulnerable in our society.”

“SNAP is America’s first line of defense against hunger. For many of the poorest Americans, SNAP is the only form of income assistance they receive. In 2011 alone, it helped to lift 4.7 million Americans above the poverty line, including 2.1 million children nationally, and without SNAP an estimated 59,450 children in Franklin County will live with the threat of hunger daily.

“Today, I voted for fairness and compassion. Leaving the nutrition title out of the Farm Bill was simply heartless and self-serving.  I will not turn my back on low-income families, children, seniors and the disabled and refuse to support a FARM bill that omits SNAP and threatens the lives of American families, children and seniors.”

Rep. Sanford Bishop (GA-02): “Splitting the Farm Bill is a disastrous mistake, and I will not abide by it. Plainly stated, rejecting the historic marriage of Farm and nutrition programs could prove devastating for both down the road. More important, by politically isolating our vital nutrition programs, the House leadership is literally taking food out of the mouths of hungry families and upsetting the precious balance of priorities for farmers and ranchers in my District and across the whole United States,” said Congressman Bishop. “Congress has an obligation to support and protect Americans of all walks of life, and so I cannot, and will not, vote for a bill that would turn its back on our nation’s hungry, destitute, and malnourished.”

Rep. Andre Carson (IN-07):  “For decades, the farm bill has been a comprehensive measure that brought together the interests of farmers with those they feed.  Today, that tradition was gutted, and families will go hungry as a result.  Every reputable local and national organization that feeds children says not funding nutrition assistance will have devastating consequences.  But nearly every Republican in the House still voted to exclude it today, and the House Republican Leadership has no plan to bring it up separately.  Today, politics was put above the very people counting on us to get it right. I hope the Senate can fix this in conference.”

Rep. William Lacy Clay (MI-01): “Today, House Republicans voted to increase hunger in America. For four decades, supplemental nutrition has been an integral part of the Farm Bill. Hunger and food insecurity is a real danger for many families who are still struggling to make ends meet. But today, House Republicans told 47 million Americans that they just didn’t matter. It is outrageous that Republicans have the nerve to tell hungry children, the rural poor, seniors and the disabled that while this country can afford to preserve subsidies for corporate farms, it can’t afford to help the most vulnerable put food on the table.”

Rep. Donald Payne (NJ-10): “This is a sad day for the millions of children and families in this country who are hungry and struggling to make ends meet.  I am appalled at my colleagues in Congress who have completely turned their back on starving children and the most underserved in this country. Not only did we just get the 600-page bill late last night, violating House Republicans’ ‘3-day rule’ of time given before voting on a bill, but separating supplemental nutrition assistance from the Farm Bill went against a four-decade precedent.

“Today, the GOP made their priorities crystal clear: government subsidies for large corporations over aid to the most vulnerable among us. It’s unconscionable that we continue to fund subsidies for the wealthiest individuals and corporations, but fail to extend a helping hand to our children, seniors, the disabled, and those who have fallen on hard times. Less people would have to rely on these programs if my Republican colleagues would focus their attention on raising the minimum wage, passing a jobs bill, and investing in education.  I will keep fighting for those who are being ignored and pushed aside because the standard set today is completely unacceptable.”

Rep. Bennie Thompson (MS-02): “Today, I cast a ‘no’ vote on the Farm Bill for the second time in 3 weeks.  Although the legislation makes much needed improvements to agriculture policy, the bill set forth today puts children and the working poor at risk by not reauthorizing the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP).  For four decades, each Farm Bill including the three previous bills that I supported, included nutrition programs as a part of the legislation. But late last night, House Republicans underhandedly released a 608 page bill that neglects to reauthorize SNAP.”

“With more than 50,000 households in Mississippi’s Second Congressional District utilizing SNAP, I refuse to support a bill that puts the cornerstone of our nation’s food assistance safety net in jeopardy.  SNAP has become a critical part of the Farm Bill and I will not support any legislation that harms Mississippi’s children, seniors and most vulnerable citizens,” said Thompson.

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