PHI Statement on House Passage of H.R. 2, Farm Bill

STATEMENT BY MATTHEW MARSOM, VICE PRESIDENT FOR PUBLIC POLICY AND PROGRAMS

“PHI is extremely disappointed at the action today in the House of Representatives, which narrowly passed the Farm Bill H.R. 2, by a vote of 213-211.

“This legislation would cause significant harm to the health and wellbeing of millions of our most vulnerable Americans. It would result in more than $20 billion in benefit cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, also known as food stamps, over 10 years. Proposed program changes would cause more than 1 million low-income households, comprised of about 2 million people, to lose their benefits altogether or have them reduced. Many of those targeted to lose benefits are low-income, working families with children.

“If this legislation becomes law, it would also weaken the integrity of the SNAP nutrition education program and threaten the delivery of services that help low-income families use their SNAP dollars more efficiently and make healthier food choices.

“As the Farm Bill moves forward PHI urges that elected leaders support the Senate Farm Bill (S. 3042) which provides a bi-partisan approach that protects and strengthens SNAP and SNAP-Ed.”