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A4 U.S. NEWS
Thursday 19 april 2018

House panel moves to curb food stamps, renew farm subsidies

By ANDREW TAYLOR Thompson, R-Pa., who said Minnesota, top Democrat In addition to food stamps, the social nutrition policy
Associated Press the GOP provisions would on the panel. “Let me be the measure would renew much of this is a refine-
WASHINGTON (AP) — A cement “a pathway to op- clear: this bill, as currently farm safety-net programs ment of the 2014 farm bill.
bitterly-divided House pan- portunity” for the poor and written, kicks people off the such as subsidies for crop So we’re not reinventing
el Wednesday approved the wheel. That makes it
new work and job train- dramatically simpler,” said
ing requirements for food Rep. Frank Lucas, R-Okla.,
stamps as part of a five- a former chairman of the
year renewal of federal committee. “Most folks are
farm and nutrition policy. generally satisfied with the
The GOP-run Agriculture fundamentals of the farm
Committee approved safety net.”
the measure strictly along That satisfaction has
party lines after a conten- helped fuel speculation
tious, five-hour hearing in that this year’s renewal of
which Democrats blasted food and farm programs
the legislation, charging it will fail because just a short-
would toss up to 2 million term renewal of current
people off of food stamps policies would satisfy many
and warning that it will lawmakers. The Senate is
never pass Congress. taking a more traditional
The hard-fought food bipartisan approach that’s
stamp provisions would sure to avoid big changes
tighten existing work re- to food stamps.
quirements and expand The House measure also
funding for state training would cut funding for land
programs, though not by conservation programs
enough to cover every- long championed by Dem-
body subject to the new ocrats, prompting criticism
work and training require- from environmental groups.
ments. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del., joined at right by Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., argues in opposition At the same time, it con-
Agriculture panel chair as members members of the House Agriculture Committee assemble to craft a new farm bill tains a proposal backed
Michael Conaway said which includes an overhaul of the food stamp program, officially known as the Supplemental by pesticide manufacturers
Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, April 18, 2018.
the provisions would offer Associated Press such as the Dow Chemi-
food stamp beneficiaries cal Company that would
“the hope of a job and a “give them better access SNAP program.” insurance, farm credit, and streamline the process for
skill and a better future for to skills-based education.” Currently, adults 18-59 are land conservation. Those approving pesticides by al-
themselves and their fami- But Democrats said the required to work part-time subsidies for farm country lowing the Environmental
lies.” provisions would drive up or agree to accept a job if traditionally form the back- Protection Agency to skip
At issue is the Supplemen- to two million people off they’re offered one. Stricter bone of support for the reviews required under the
tal Nutrition Assistance of the program, force food rules apply to able-bodied measure among Republi- Endangered Species Act.
Program, or SNAP, which stamp recipients to keep adults without dependents cans, while urban Demo- The panel adopted by
provides food aid for more up with extensive record between the ages of 18 crats support food aid for voice vote a proposal by
than 40 million people, with keeping rules, and create and 49, who are subject the poor. Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Calif.,
benefits averaging about bulky state bureaucracies to a three-month limit of The legislation has tradition- to prohibit the slaughter,
$450 a month for a family to keep track of it all — benefits unless they meet ally been bipartisan, blend- trade or import or export of
of four. while not providing enough a work requirement of 80 ing support from urban dogs and cats for human
The food stamp cuts are money to provide job train- hours per month. Democrats supporting nu- consumption in the United
part of a “workforce devel- ing to all those who would Under the new bill, that trition programs with farm States.q
opment” agenda prom- require it. requirement would be ex- state lawmakers supporting
ised by GOP leaders such “This legislation would cre- panded to apply to all farm programs.
as Speaker Paul Ryan, ate giant, untested bu- work-capable adults, man- The measure mostly tin-
R-Wis., though other ele- reaucracies at the state dating that they either kers with those programs,
ments of the agenda have level. It cuts more than $9 work or participate in work adding provisions aimed
been slow to develop. billion in benefits and rolls training for 20 hours per at helping rural America
“The timing is just perfect, those savings into state week with the exception of obtain high-speed internet
given the fact that we have slush funds where they can seniors, pregnant women, access, assist beginning
more than five million jobs use the money to operate caretakers of children un- farmers, and ease regula-
that are open and avail- other aspects of SNAP,” der the age of six, or peo- tions on producers.
able,” said Rep. Glenn said Rep. Collin Peterson of ple with disabilities. “When you step away from