Statement attributed to Vince Hall, Chief Government Relations Officer
The significance of the farm bill in combating food insecurity in the United States cannot be overstated. We’ve heard from our neighbors facing hunger that food insecurity should be treated as an urgent crisis and, unfortunately, the bill text the House Agriculture Committee released today is cause for concern.
While the bill proposes several improvements to nutrition programs, it also contains provisions that, over time, weaken the government's ability to provide vital resources to people facing hunger.
Feeding America is particularly concerned by provisions that limit how the USDA can update the Thrifty Food Plan to reflect current food prices that remain persistently high. This provision would create hardship for families experiencing food insecurity and increase pressure on our nation’s already strained food banks.
SNAP benefits would struggle to keep pace with the actual cost of a frugal, nutritious diet for families if future updates to the Thrifty Food Plan are limited to only inflation adjustments. This cut of nearly $30 billion in food assistance benefits would impact every SNAP participant for years to come.
The bill would also fundamentally change SNAP from a food assistance program to a nutrition program to prevent chronic conditions. While Feeding America supports policies that promote health and good nutrition, the flexibility built in SNAP enables individuals and families to navigate their unique, challenging situations with dignity and independence.
While we are encouraged by investments in SNAP eligibility and access for seniors and individuals with drug felony convictions, these will not outdo the consequences caused by the cuts to future SNAP benefits.
In addition to SNAP provisions, we are concerned that the $40 million per year increase to The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) is well below the significant increase needed to meet the needs in communities nationwide. TEFAP moves food from U.S. farmers and producers, through food banks, to families facing hunger. Providing crucial investments in TEFAP ensures families can access healthy food and bolsters our U.S. farm economy.
The bill would also limit the USDA’s authority to use Commodity Credit Corporation funds without explicit Congressional approval, creating a barrier to the USDA providing additional funds to purchase food distributed through TEFAP.
As the farm bill process moves forward, Feeding America urges Congress to work together to pass bipartisan legislation that will strengthen and protect the federal nutrition programs that provide food assistance to millions of people across the country.
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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 X.com.