Dive Brief:
- A group of 25 Democrats on Monday wrote to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy warning that a far-right push to cut food assistance could “jeopardize consideration and passage of a bipartisan farm bill.”
- The lawmakers, who are all members of the House Agriculture Committee, said work on the upcoming farm bill is being undermined by a continued threat to change eligibility or benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
- Democrats had agreed to strengthen SNAP work requirements in May as part of the deal to raise the debt ceiling. Some Republicans, however, have criticized that agreement and are expected to use the farm bill as a vehicle to revive the fight over food assistance.
Dive Insight:
Although traditionally considered must-pass bipartisan legislation, the farm bill in recent years has attracted fierce political opposition, primarily over rising costs of administering the nation's food assistance program.
Both the 2014 and 2018 farm bills were stalled after initially being rejected in the House over pushes to cut SNAP. Disagreements over the farm bill in 2014 led to a two-year impasse.
“The failures of the 2014 and 2018 House versions of the farm bill their first time up for consideration caused a great deal of anxiety in rural America,” Democrat committee members wrote in their letter. “That should be enough of a reminder to you that playing partisan SNAP politics does nothing to address the needs of our farm and ranch families who depend on the other components of the bill.”
The farm bill, which needs reauthorization every five years, funds commodity and conservation programs in addition to SNAP. This year’s legislation is expected to cost more than $1 trillion over 10 years, with food assistance making up more than 80% of funding.
Democrats asked McCarthy to respect the final bill that comes out of the House Agriculture Committee later this fall, saying bipartisanship is key “in getting farm bills done.” They also noted recent comments from Republican Chairman Rep. Glenn Thompson about how the legislation is “not going after SNAP.”
The current farm bill is set to expire Sept. 30, though programs will not begin to lose funding until the end of the year. Congress can pass extensions to allow for negotiations to continue.
“Our nation’s hungry and those who grow their food deserve a bipartisan farm bill to address their needs,” Democrat committee members wrote in their letter.
