[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 96 (Monday, July 8, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1020]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 FEDERAL AGRICULTURE REFORM AND RISK MANAGEMENT ACT OF 2013 (H.R. 1947)

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, July 8, 2013

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I remain in strong opposition to the House 
Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013 (H.R. 1947) 
otherwise known as the `Farm Bill'. On June 20, 2013, I along with the 
majority of my colleagues voted against House Republican's extreme 
bill. Now farmers in Minnesota and across this country are depending on 
Congress to reach a bipartisan agreement that will continue to grow our 
agricultural economy and enable us to best meet our future agriculture 
needs.
  In the past, the Farm Bill has received strong bipartisan support. 
Members of Congress from both rural and urban districts found common 
ground to support our agriculture sector, keep food affordable, and 
continue investments in agricultural research. However, this year the 
House Republican Leadership chose to put partisan politics before the 
best interests of our farmers, ranchers, and communities.
  The bill that I voted against included an unprecedented cut to the 
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Of the almost $40 
billion in cuts, more than half come from a devastating reduction to 
the nutrition assistance for poor children, seniors, and persons with 
disabilities. An estimated 38,000 Minnesotans and nearly 2 million 
Americans would lose their SNAP benefits entirely and 210,000 children 
would no longer receive free meals at school.
  In June, along with Congressman Ellison, I hosted a listening 
discussion on the impact that these cuts would have on Minnesotans. The 
audience heard from state and county officials, faith leaders, 
community service providers, and individuals that receive SNAP. The 
testimony, often emotional, demonstrated the clear need for SNAP to 
ensure individuals are able to access healthy food.
  Patricia Lull, Executive Director of the Saint Paul Area Council of 
Churches, spoke of the growing need that churches in Minnesota have 
witnessed. She told us, ``We come from Christian, Jewish, Muslim, 
Unitarian, and Quaker backgrounds, but every one of our faith 
traditions agrees with this conviction--No more hungry neighbors!''
  Evelyn, a Minnesota senior and diabetic, recently began receiving 
SNAP benefits. She told us about how the rising cost of her medications 
had thrown her into Medicare Part D's donut hole and forced her to cut 
her expenses as low as she could. According to Evelyn, without SNAP she 
would be unable to afford the healthy meals she needs to keep her 
diabetes in check. She was already worried about how she would cope 
with the estimated 4% reduction that will take effect this November. If 
she was no longer eligible for SNAP, she told us she wouldn't know what 
to do.
  In addition to the cuts already included in the bill, Tea-Party 
Republicans added polarizing amendments that would make it even more 
difficult to qualify for SNAP. One of the amendments would give states 
the ability to require all SNAP applicants to submit to drug testing. 
Another allowed states to require parents and some persons with 
disabilities to meet work requirements in order to qualify for SNAP. 
These destructive amendments would create new barriers for struggling 
Americans to access nutrition assistance, while doing nothing to 
improve efficiency or reduce fraud. Simply, Tea-Party Republicans voted 
to make a bad bill even worse.
  After failing to pass their own bill, the House Republican Leadership 
has an obligation to move forward a bipartisan Farm Bill that does not 
harm our poorest Americans. I call on the House Republican Majority to 
bring the Senate passed bipartisan Farm Bill (S. 954) to the floor for 
an up or down vote. While not perfect, the Senate-passed bill includes 
common-sense reforms to outdated programs, makes modest changes to 
SNAP, reaffirms our commitment to conservation, and eliminates wasteful 
spending.
  Minnesota farmers are depending on Congress to act swiftly and pass a 
long-term Farm Bill before the current extension expires. Together, 
Democrats and Republicans can pass the Senate's Farm Bill before 
summer's end and give certainty to America's farmers, ranchers, and 
consumers.

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