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McCollum to Host Policy Discussion Highlighting Devastating Cuts to Food Assistance by House GOP in Farm Bill

June 6, 2013

June 10, 2013 - 1:30 PM
Minnesota State Capitol - Room 15

Saint Paul, MN— On Monday, June 10th, Congresswoman McCollum will host a listening session at 1:30 PM at the Minnesota State Capitol to discuss the impact of proposed cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by the U.S. House Agriculture Committee. Anti-hunger leaders will provide testimony about the impact of this proposal on Minnesota’s low-income children, families and seniors.

On May 15, 2013, the House Committee on Agricultural passed the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act (H.R. 1947), also known as the Farm Bill. The bill cuts SNAP benefits by $20.5 billion over the next ten years, ending access to vital food assistance for nearly two million vulnerable children, families, seniors, and persons with disabilities. This massive cut targeting hungry Americans is in addition to a previously scheduled reduction in benefits scheduled to start on November 1, 2013. The cumulative effect of these two major reductions would have a severe impact on the most vulnerable Americans.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program was created to address hunger by providing financial assistance to low-income families to purchase food. Since its inception, SNAP has served as the primary food support program for millions of American families undergoing financial difficulties. The average daily SNAP benefit amounts to less than $3.80 a day and more than half of the nation's SNAP beneficiaries live in deep poverty—an income of less than $10,000. In Minnesota alone, over 500,000 individuals receive SNAP benefits each year with 2/3 of these beneficiaries being poor children, seniors, or adults with disabilities.

Earlier that morning, Rep. McCollum will join U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack at an event at the University of Minnesota’s St. Paul Campus to discuss the need to pass a five-year Farm Bill.

*** Media outlets interested in covering these events are asked to RSVP to Matt Hilgart at 202-579-4905, or matthew.hilgart@mail.house.gov ***

Congresswoman McCollum serves on the Appropriations Committee.

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