[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 69 (Thursday, May 16, 2013)]
[House]
[Pages H2666-H2667]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

  (Mr. BUTTERFIELD asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the deep 
cuts once again being proposed by Republicans to the SNAP program in 
the House farm bill. In July 2012, the House Agriculture Committee 
reported a bipartisan farm bill that included $16 billion in food stamp 
cuts. Guess what? The Speaker and the Republican majority refused to 
schedule that bill for a vote. And so the Agriculture Committee has now 
marked up another farm bill, this time with $20 billion in cuts to the 
SNAP program.
  Why are you so determined to attempt deficit reduction on the backs 
of the poor and less fortunate in our society? The SNAP program helps 
families

[[Page H2667]]

that have fallen on hard times and helps them feed their families until 
they can get back on their feet.
  I am very upset by these proposed cuts. I ask my Republican 
colleagues to take a fresh look at what they're proposing and 
reconsider these cuts, cuts that will affect 2 million poor people, 
many of whom are children and the elderly.
  Mr. Speaker, we are a Nation that helps the less fortunate. This is 
not who we are as a country. We are compassionate people, and we should 
feed the hungry in times of need.

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