[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 81 (Thursday, May 17, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H4147]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          OPPOSE THE FARM BILL

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Arizona (Mr. Gallego) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. Speaker, I was a free lunch kid growing up. I was 
the young man that brought his ID card to the lunch lady and she looked 
on the back for the yellow sticker and I received free breakfasts and 
free lunches.
  I know what it is like to come from a home with a lot of love but not 
a lot of money. I can tell you for a fact that kids with backgrounds 
like me cannot succeed in the classroom if they are worried about the 
next meal.
  That is why this GOP farm bill is so reprehensible. Republicans are 
proposing SNAP cuts that will kick a quarter-of-a-million students off 
of the free lunch program.
  That is right, Mr. Speaker. They have just given massive tax cuts to 
millionaires and billionaires, but now, to save money, they are trying 
to pass a bill that could cause poor kids across this country to go 
hungry.
  This legislation is a direct attack on my constituents. It is a 
direct attack on the poor. One in four families in my district alone 
counts on SNAP to put food on the table.
  They deserve better. Our country deserves better. I urge my 
colleagues to oppose this shameful legislation.

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