From the Food Research and Action Center (http://www.frac.org):
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Farm Bill Chatter: In its July 27 podcast, Agri-Pulse reports that on July 26, after Chairman Roberts and House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway (R-TX) met with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI), the two met with their Democratic counterparts Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Representative Collin Peterson (D-MN). The meetings occurred a week after House Farm Bill conferees had been appointed and while Senate conferee appointments were still pending, an announcement that is now likely during the week of July 29. Agri-Pulse reports that Roberts says language has been tentatively worked out on five of the bill’s titles but didn’t say which ones. According to Agri-Pulse, “the consensus from both meetings, Roberts says, was that enacting a new farm bill is the top priority for everyone involved … Roberts said the Committee leaders agreed that getting a farm bill done was more important than ‘any single issue that might be brought up and that would include nutrition,’ a reference to the food stamp reforms that House Republicans have been demanding.” Also according to Agri-Pulse, “Ryan was also on board with passing the Farm Bill even though he has been the number one advocate for tightening food stamp work requirements. Roberts says Ryan signaled some give on that issue. Roberts said he says if we go in there from the back door or the front door we’ll get there from here.” See “Agri-Pulse Daybreak,” 7/27/18.
What’s At Stake in Conference: At stake in the Senate/House Farm Bill Conference Committee are the parameters of the nation’s nutrition safety net. As the House and Senate begin negotiations over the Farm Bill, FRAC and allies are redoubling efforts to protect and strengthen SNAP. House Farm Bill conferees were named on July 18; Senate conferees are expected to be named during the week of July 29. Because SNAP is permanently authorized, benefits would not be interrupted if Congress fails to pass a new Farm Bill before the current law expires on September 30.
Topline Farm Bill Message: Don’t cut SNAP; don’t take food out of the refrigerators and off the tables of needy Americans. Instead strengthen SNAP, including by improving benefit adequacy.
Contact Senators and Representatives: 1) Thank Senators who voted for the motion to table the harmful SNAP amendment to the Farm Bill and urge all Senators to oppose harmful SNAP provisions in any final Senate/House negotiated Farm Bill. 2) Thank House Members who voted “No” on June 21 on the motion to reconsider H.R. 2 and “No” on bill passage, and urge all House Members to oppose harmful SNAP provisions in any final Senate/House negotiated Farm Bill.
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