[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 89 (Thursday, June 20, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E944]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       FEDERAL AGRICULTURE REFORM AND RISK MANAGEMENT ACT OF 2013

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                               speech of

                           HON. JIM McDERMOTT

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 18, 2013

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 1947) to 
     provide for the reform and continuation of agricultural and 
     other programs of the Department of Agriculture through 
     fiscal year 2018, and for other purposes:

  Mr. McDERMOTT. Madam Chair, I am sad to see that, after failing to 
get the votes to pass a farm bill last year, Republicans are back at it 
again, this time with even bigger cuts to SNAP. In this year's House 
farm bill, H.R. 1947, the Republicans are proposing a cut of $20.5 
billion dollars to the program, five times more than what the Senate 
approved last week.
  The proposed cuts to SNAP in H.R. 1947 mean nearly 2 million low-
income people will lose eligibility for food assistance and 200,000 
children will lose access to the free or reduce school lunch program. 
Of those who still receive benefits, 1.7 million will see a reduction 
of an average of $90 per month. Additionally, 280,000 people will 
directly or indirectly lose their jobs.
  The Republicans are, once again, using a manufactured fiscal crisis 
to cut aid for the most vulnerable Americans. But let's be honest, the 
true purpose of cutting food aid to those in need is not to ``balance 
our budget,'' especially because the evidence shows that these cuts 
will actually hurt our economy. Implementing short-term cuts that 
create long-term problems will only slow job growth and increase our 
deficit.
  Fiscal responsibility is about meeting our obligations. It is about 
investing in the American people. It is about growing our opportunities 
and supporting our economy when the free market won't.
  What we are deciding right now is whether we ought to eliminate jobs 
and assistance for people in need over the next 10 years or help them 
increase their productivity until they no longer need us. We are 
deciding if we are a nation that takes care of its people or leaves 
them to fend for themselves when times are tough. It shouldn't be a 
hard decision to make. Vote against the proposed cuts to SNAP in the 
House Farm bill.

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