Senior Democrats on the House Agriculture Committee stood firm against cuts in the food-stamp program at the end of a two-year review inaugurated by chairman Michael Conaway, a Texas Republican. The largest U.S. anti-hunger program is a popular target for Republicans, who say it costs too much — $74 billion in fiscal 2015 — because it provides benefits to too many people.
Early this year, House Republicans proposed a 20-percent cut in food stamp funding over 10 years, including conversion of the program to a block grant in 2021. Similar proposals were made in the five previous years. The platform adopted by the Republican National Convention last summer said it was “a mistake” for USDA to run the program and that some other agency should administer it.
“If next year the Republican leadership wants to block-grant or cut the program or put more barriers in place to deny people the benefit to put food on the table, there is going to be one hell of a fight,” said Democrat Jim McGovern of Massachusetts, one of the foremost defenders of food stamps. “And it is a fight worth having.”
The Democratic leader on the House panel, Collin Peterson of Minnesota, said the review showed broad support for keeping food stamps in the farm bill and opposition to making it a block grant for states to run. “I hope we can keep these themes in mind when we begin work on the farm bill next year,” and Peterson.
Conaway said the committee review showed there was room for improvement in food stamps. “As we have discussed time and again, SNAP is not a one-size-fits-all program,” said Conaway, using the acronym for the program’s official name, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. “Different communities have different needs, and there are different gaps in SNAP delivery.”
A report summarizing the review will be issued next month, said Conaway.
“As I’ve said before, no one program will end hunger or poverty,” said Indiana Republican Jackie Walorski, who chairs the nutrition subcommittee, in describing food stamps as part of the federal safety net.
At latest count, 43.6 million people received food stamps, at an average $125.76 a month per person, well below the peak of 47.8 million people in December 2012. The program helps poor people buy food. The majority of recipients are children, elderly or disabled.
Conservative Republicans voted for the largest cuts in food stamps in a generation during the debate on the 2014 farm law. The demand for food stamp cuts led to the first House defeat ever of a farm bill, in June 2013.
When he launched the review in 2015, Conaway said food stamps had failed to adjust to changing needs and should “serve as a tool to help individuals move up the economic ladder.” Walorski made a similar critique. Conaway also has pointed to the formal name of the program to say that food stamps “are designed to be supplemental, leaving (the) household responsible for the remaining needs.” He said a successful solution to hunger would include “the charitable sector.”
To read written testimony by witnesses at the final Agriculture Committee hearing of the year on food stamps or to watch a video of the hearing, click here.