[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 102 (Wednesday, July 17, 2013)]
[House]
[Pages H4577-H4578]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           FEDERAL AGRICULTURE REFORM AND RISK MANAGEMENT ACT

  (Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, last week, the House 
passed the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act, or FARRM 
Act. Overall, the agriculture programs will save $20 billion.
  This package of farm bill programs will create a more cost-effective 
and market-oriented framework of agriculture policies and ensure that 
Americans continue to have a safe and affordable food supply.
  This bill did not include title IV of the committee-passed 
legislation, which contained significant reforms to the Supplemental 
Nutritional Assistance Program, or food stamps, totaling an additional 
$20 billion in savings. Contrary to popular belief, the current SNAP 
program was not affected by passage of last week's FARRM Act.

[[Page H4578]]

  The American people deserve a transparent and open debate over 
agriculture and nutrition programs, both of which are in dire need of 
reform, which is why the House will be considering reforms to SNAP in 
the coming weeks.
  We have an opportunity to achieve a better and more efficient farm 
bill here, Madam Speaker. I look forward to working with colleagues in 
the House and Senate on a final package so that we can enact those 
commonsense reforms into law.

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