Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow Releases 2012 Farm Bill Mark

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) released her 2012 Farm Bill mark which we understand includes a $4 billion cut to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by limiting states’ ability to operate “Heat and Eat” (pdf) policies.  This cut would mean less food in the refrigerator for already hungry families.

The cut would limit states’ ability to coordinate the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and SNAP benefits, and counterintuitively, reduce SNAP benefits for households eligible for but receiving the smallest, least adequate LIHEAP benefits.  Currently, 14 states, including New York, implement “Heat and Eat” policies. This proposal would decrease benefits for more than 275,000 households across the state, resulting in more than $150 million in benefit cuts.

Visit the Food Research and Action Center for opprotunities to take action.

 

The Food Stamp Program is Part of the Farm Bill

Every five years, Congress renews the “Farm Bill,” a comprehensive piece of legislation that includes farm and agricultural policies and that also includes the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as the Food Stamp Program in New York State. The last Farm Bill was passed in 2008. It made several improvements to help the tens of millions of people in this country who are struggling against hunger and trying to stretch limited budgets to buy healthy food.

Learn more by visiting the Food Research and Action Center.

 

Read testimony submitted to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Representiave Joe Crowley at a January 4, 2012 Farm Bill listening session.