[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 101 (Tuesday, July 16, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1061]
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

                        Thursday, July 11, 2013

  Ms. CLARKE. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in vehement opposition to H.R. 
2642, the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013. 
Specifically, I oppose separating nutrition assistance programs from 
the agricultural subsidies programs and this is exactly what this bill 
does.
  Agricultural and nutrition assistance programs have traditionally 
moved through Congress as part of the same authorizing legislation, 
allowing us to comprehensively address both issues.
  This amalgamation has united urban and rural areas of America, 
serving as a manifestation of the connection shared between these 
seemingly disparate communities.
  Divorcing food stamps from agricultural subsidies would halt much-
needed action that insures funding for food assistance to low-income 
Americans.
  Republicans accuse Democrats of playing politics with farm issues, 
yet they propose a two-bill strategy that is likely to stagnate any 
progress toward assisting the nation's most vulnerable populations.
  The moment has arrived in our Congress where we have the ability to 
pass legislation that ensures a child can focus on a homework 
assignment without the distraction of hunger, guarantees healthy meals 
to struggling families who have been hit hard by the recent economic 
downturn, and lends to the economic advancement of communities across 
the country.
  Forty-seven million people experience food insecurity in the United 
States. In New York alone, over three million New Yorkers receive food 
stamps. This bill as it currently stands is an attack on the nutrition 
programs, specifically food stamps.
  We have an unparalleled moment of opportunity to generate policy that 
is in tune with the circumstances of ALL of the American people--those 
in both rural and urban communities.
  Decoupling the nutrition programs from the agricultural subsidies 
programs will in effect be the death nail for the food stamps program. 
There will be no incentives for conservatives to support nutritional 
programs if this decoupling occurs, which is why I oppose this bill.

                          ____________________