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May 17, 2024


 

News


Please note that the following two paragraphs have been updated:

Overview: A short-term continuing resolution bill to fund the government into the latter part of this year seems more likely than getting all 12 appropriations bills through Congress and on to the president's desk by Sept. 30. The House Agriculture Committee published its text of the 2025 farm bill ([link removed]) with a$1.5 trillion price tag. The bill contains language that would remove "climate-smart requirements" for using conservation funds and would prevent SNAPbenefits from keeping pace with the cost of a healthy, realistic diet over time, which the Congressional Budget Office estimates would result in a roughly $30 billion cut to SNAP over the next decade (See section on SNAP below). The Senate version includes, in comparison, provisions for protecting the climate, protecting and strengtheningthe SNAP program and expanding access to groups that have historically been excluded from the program.

House Farm Bill Proposal - Future SNAP Cuts:The proposed Farm Bill released today bythe House Agriculture Committee could put, if passed, a healthy diet out of reach in the future for millions of families with low incomes by cutting future benefits for all SNAP participants and eroding the adequacy of SNAP benefits over time.The proposal would do this by freezing the cost of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Thrifty Food Plan, which forms the basis for SNAP benefit levels, outside of inflation adjustments, even if nutrition guidelines or other factors change the cost of an adequate diet.This would put at risk SNAP benefits for millions of participants, including children, older adults, and people with disabilities who would receive less food assistance in the future because of this change in policy, according to an analysis by the Center of Budget and Policy Priorities. We urge members and constituents of the CCUSA network who feel this proposal would negatively impact their communities to reach out tomembers of the House Agriculture Committee ([link removed]) and voice opposition to these changes (website ([link removed]) and membership ([link removed])). The Committee is scheduled to "mark up" (consider and vote on the legislation) next Thursday, May 23rd.

 

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