[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 102 (Tuesday, July 10, 2012)]
[House]
[Page H4708]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SNAP CUTS
(Mr. BACA asked and was given permission to address the House for 1
minute.)
Mr. BACA. Madam Speaker, tomorrow the House Agriculture Committee
will mark up the farm bill that will devastate many of our children,
seniors, and veterans. This misguided bill will cut $16 billion from
the SNAP program, a program that puts food on the table for over 46
million Americans.
This debate isn't just about the numbers; there is a human cost. If
these cuts are allowed to stand, 2 to 3 million low-income individuals
will lose SNAP eligibility, and 280,000 children will lose access to
free school meals. These are children who may have the only meal
provided to them in school, and it will change their attitudes and
their behaviors in school. And 210,000 households in my State of
California will receive reduced benefit levels.
In California, 6 million people rely on SNAP, including 2 million
children. In my district, they suffer from the fourth highest rate of
food insecurity in the Nation.
It is a moral responsibility that we protect the SNAP program. We
must pass a responsible farm bill that includes no nutritional cuts.
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