Farm Bill Proposal in Congress Could Cut Billions in SNAP Benefits
A Farm Bill proposal under debate in Congress contemplates cutting billions of dollars in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for agriculture-dependent states, including Iowa. Anti-hunger groups in Iowa are strongly opposing the measure.
The version of the Farm Bill, introduced by Rep. Glenn Thompson, R-Pennsylvania and chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, proposes to cut nearly $30 billion in SNAP benefits over the next decade. Iowa would be hit with a $170 million reduction, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
Luke Elzinga, board chair of the Iowa Hunger Coalition, expressed concern about the impact of these cuts on the state’s most vulnerable people. «This is especially concerning because right now food banks and food pantries across the state are facing unprecedented demand,» he explained.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Thrifty Food Plan, which formulates funding for SNAP and other food assistance programs, would also freeze future benefits. Thompson and other advocates of the measure argue that this version of the Farm Bill promotes responsible planning and budgeting.
Elzinga’s coalition has pointed out that SNAP benefits are no longer sufficient to meet basic food needs in the state, falling about 20% short of what is needed to make ends meet. «We’re talking about families that typically make less than $6 a day per person,» Elzinga stressed. «It’s really not enough to survive anymore. A lot of people are struggling with high food prices, housing costs and child care costs.»
Although this is not the final version of the Farm Bill, Elzinga argued that starting negotiations with a proposal that includes such significant cuts to SNAP benefits is not an appropriate strategy. According to him, it creates the perception in Congress that low-income people are not a priority.