GOP’s Partisan Farm Bill Abandons Hungry Americans by Removing Nutrition Programs

For Immediate Release: July 11, 2013
Contact: Maria Reppas, (202) 225-6631 / (202) 527-0149 maria.reppas@mail.house.gov

Republican Lawmakers Trumpet Certainty for Agribusiness and Vote to Inflict Certain Hunger on Low-Income Americans

Washington, DC – For the past four decades, Congress authorized agriculture and nutrition programs in farm bills, which united rural, suburban, and urban Members of Congress –Republicans and Democrats. This bipartisan approach ensured economic certainty for farmers and a nutrition safety net for low-income seniors, families, and individuals with disabilities.

Today, House Republicans abandoned this decades-long tradition to ram through a totally partisan farm bill (H.R. 2642). For the first time in 40 years, House GOP leadership removed standard nutrition programs from the farm bill. More than 500 organizations representing faith-based, agriculture, conservation, and timber organizations opposed this legislation as well.

Following passage of the Republican farm bill, Congresswoman Betty McCollum issued the following statement:

“Passing a farm bill that provides taxpayer-funded corporate welfare to millionaires and completely abandons hungry children, poor seniors and people with disabilities is shameful. I opposed the Republicans’ cruel and hyper-partisan legislation. I urge the American people to stand with Democrats and reject it as well.”

The final vote was 216-208. Twelve Republicans and 196 Democrats opposed the bill.

Congresswoman Betty McCollum is a member of the House Appropriations Committee and is Co-Chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus.

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