Attributed to Matt Knott, President of Feeding America
“Today, the United States Senate passed S. 3042, the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, by a vote of 86-11. This bipartisan bill protects the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and we thank the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee for their efforts to support federal nutrition programs.
“The Senate bill protects SNAP for children, seniors, veterans, and families who rely on the program for vital nutrition assistance, while encouraging employment. In contrast, the House version of the Farm Bill (H.R. 2) cuts eligibility and replaces existing program work requirements with unreasonable new restrictions, dramatically limiting the benefit’s availability for people in need.
“We also commend the Senate’s adoption of additional funding for The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), thanks to the leadership of Chairman Pat Roberts, Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow, and Senator Joe Donnelly. Our member food banks depend on TEFAP to address the significant need for food assistance in communities, nationwide. We will continue to work with representatives from both the House and Senate, as the legislation moves to conference, to strengthen SNAP and TEFAP.
“As the Farm Bill progresses, we urge lawmakers from both sides of the aisle to focus on supporting America’s agriculture producers while also protecting and funding critical federal nutrition programs.”
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About Feeding America
Feeding America® is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through a network of more than 200 food banks, 21 statewide food bank associations, and over 60,000 partner agencies, food pantries and meal programs, we helped provide 5.3 billion meals to tens of millions of people in need last year. Feeding America also supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security among the people we serve; brings attention to the social and systemic barriers that contribute to food insecurity in our nation; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
