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Congresswoman McCollum Decries Farm Bill’s Harsh Cuts to Nutrition Programs

July 12, 2012

For Immediate Release: July 12, 2012

Contact: Maria Reppas, (202) 225-6631 / (202) 527-0149 maria.reppas@mail.house.gov

Congresswoman McCollum Decries Farm Bill’s Harsh Cuts to Nutrition Programs

2 to 3 million low-income Americans will have food assistance eliminated

Washington, DC – Yesterday, the House Committee on Agriculture passed the 2012 farm bill – the Federal Agriculture and Risk Management Act (H.R. 6083) – which proposes a $16.5 billion cut from nutrition programs for low-income seniors, families, and children. The deep cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – which helps over 46 million Americans feed their families, including 500,000 Minnesotans -- will result in 2 to 3 million low-income Americans being kicked off the food assistance program. This Republican bill will remove an additional 280,000 low-income children from the school lunch program.

“This Republican farm bill will take food off the table of hungry families and seniors. It is unconscionable for this Republican-Tea Party Congress to cut the deficit by cutting food assistance for low-income Americans while they continue to fight to cut taxes for millionaires and billionaires,” said Congresswoman McCollum. “Millions of Americans rely on SNAP because of the depth, severity, and pain caused by the Bush Recession. Congress can defeat hunger and work to get American back to work by investing in strengthening our economy, not targeting hungry kids, seniors, and their families.”

Congresswoman Betty McCollum serves on the House Appropriations
and Budget Committees.

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