The U.S House of Representatives and U.S. Senate have both put forth their proposed versions of the Farm Bill with markups happening to finalize those drafts. Many agriculture groups have expressed support for the House version of the bill, yet it is this version that has drawn the ire of Senate Democrats. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack held a …
House Ag Committee Approves Farm Bill, Despite SNAP Differences
On Wednesday, the House Agriculture Committee did approve the draft of the 2018 Farm Bill, the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018, HR-2. The vote was 26-20 as Democrats and Republicans squared off on SNAP, the nutrition title. Republicans efforts to reform it include work requirements, but Democrats argue the program changes may be too costly, and the reforms aren’t …
House Ag Committee Advances Agriculture and Nutrition Act
The House Agriculture Committee passed out of committee the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 (H.R.2)  – critical legislation to address the economic challenges facing the nation’s farmers and ranchers, while making historic investments in opportunities for SNAP recipients. Upon passage, Chairman K. Michael Conaway (TX-11) issued the below remarks: “Today’s vote was about America’s farmers and ranchers. It was …
House Agriculture Committee Considers Pros and Cons to Restricting SNAP Purchases
The House Agriculture Committee held a hearing to explore the implications of restricting what can be purchased with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Members of the committee heard from a panel of witnesses who discussed the challenges of implementing product restrictions, the need for encouraging healthy purchasing habits, and the role that incentives and nutrition education can play in …