OKPOLICY.ORG
Oklahoma Policy Institute released the following statement on the failure and possible reconsideration of the Farm Bill in the U.S. House:
Renewal of the U.S. Farm Bill is essential for Oklahoma families and for our state’s agricultural economy. Unfortunately, passage of this law has been derailed because Congress pursued a deeply flawed and partisan approach that would have taken away food assistance from two million struggling Americans, including children, seniors, and veterans.
It is deeply disappointing that 198 members of the U.S. House, including all the members of the Oklahoma delegation, voted in favor of this harsh and partisan Farm Bill that would put an estimated 97,000 Oklahomans and their families at risk of going hungry. This bill would have cut SNAP dollars by nearly $19 billion and diverted much of that money to a risky new scheme of ineffective work programs and unforgiving penalties. This plan would have resulted in Oklahomans losing food assistance without new income to cover the loss.
The food assistance provided by SNAP is crucial for many Oklahoma families and for the Oklahoma economy. SNAP brings nearly $1 billion per year to our state and keeps many communities from becoming food deserts. To pass a responsible Farm Bill, Congress must return to a bipartisan commitment to improve SNAP and reduce hunger and malnutrition in America. It’s time for Congress to embrace that bipartisan spirit again and work on a Farm Bill that protects and strengthens SNAP.
