[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 89 (Thursday, June 20, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E951]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       FEDERAL AGRICULTURE REFORM AND RISK MANAGEMENT ACT OF 2013

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. YVETTE D. CLARKE

                              of new york

                    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:

  Ms. CLARKE. Madam Chair, today, I stand in opposition H.R. 1947, the 
Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act. I vehemently oppose 
this bill's $20 billion cuts to the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance 
Program also known as SNAP. This program currently provides food 
assistance to forty seven million Americans, who otherwise would not 
have access to one of our most basic human needs--food.
  This bill would result in irreparable harm to families, not just in 
my home district of Brooklyn New York, but in every part of the United 
States.
  Almost two-thirds of the people enrolled in SNAP are children, senior 
citizens, or persons with disabilities. These low income Americans 
would lose their food assistance as a result of these draconian cuts.
  In addition to the SNAP cuts, this bill also restricts some 
categorical eligibility options for States. In New York, more than 
300,000 households participant in the Low Income Home Energy Assistance 
Program. Participation in this program usually results in a higher SNAP 
benefit for the household.
  If this state option is restricted, SNAP benefits for these 
households will decrease by roughly 90 dollars per month. This cruel 
provision takes the food out of the mouth of children and increases the 
administrative burden on New York.
  The bill under consideration today would create even more 
difficulties for the families that receive SNAP benefits. I ask my 
colleagues to vote no on this heinous bill.

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