News

Republicans Push Food Stamp Changes Through House with Controversial Farm Bill

On Thursday, the House passed its GOP-backed version of the farm bill by a marginal two votes. With the current farm bill set to expire September 30, lawmakers have been scrambling to come to a consensus on the key piece of legislation traditionally responsible for re-authorizing programs related to food and agricultural policy.

SLIDESHOW: DONALD TRUMP’S 30 CRAZIEST TWEETS

The farm bill was finally pushed through by Republicans after a rocky start. Back in May, the bill failed in the House after a group of Republicans from the Freedom Caucus voted in opposition to secure their own vote for a conservative immigration plan.

50 Celebrities Who Have Died In 2018 – Tribute Slideshow

Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!

A week of political news in your in-box.
We find the news you need to know, so you don't have to.

The most polarizing aspect of the $867 billion package is the Supplemental Nutrition Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps. Under the proposed legislation, able-bodied adults aged 18-59 will have to spend 20 hours per week either working or participating in a state-run training program to receive benefits.

According to Republicans, the job requirements will promote self-sufficiency and push more workers into the labor force.

“This bill includes critical reforms to nutrition benefits that close the skills gap, better equip our workforce, and encourage people to move from welfare to work, so more Americans have the opportunity to tap into the economic prosperity we’re seeing right now,” said Speaker of the House Paul Ryan

The bill comes to the dismay of many Democrats and anti-hunger groups who claim it will only exacerbate the problem of food insecurity by cutting an estimated 400,000 households off the program as well as putting thousands of children at risk of losing their enrollment in free and reduced-price school meal programs. According to Rep. Collin Peterson, top Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee, the bill “worsens hunger and it fails rural communities.”

The passage of the bill means it will soon go to conference with the Senate’s bipartisan version of the bill, given it passes, before appearing on the president’s desk.

Cathryn Casatuta

Share
Published by
Cathryn Casatuta

Recent Posts

Attorney General Pam Bondi Claims Trump Has Constitutional Authority To Nullify Laws In Newly Revealed Letters

Newly released letters from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi claim that President Donald Trump has…

13 hours ago

GOP Rep. Don Bacon Calls For Pete Hegseth To Be Fired Over Mismanagement Of Defense Department

Rep. Don Bacon (R-Nebraska) has called for Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s dismissal, making him…

13 hours ago

Supreme Court Allows Trump’s Mass Firings At Department Of Education To Proceed

On Monday, the Supreme Court lifted a federal injunction, allowing President Donald Trump to proceed…

13 hours ago

Andrew Cuomo Promises To ‘Hit The Streets’ To Win Race Against Zohran Mamdani For NYC Mayor

Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has announced that he will continue his campaign for…

19 hours ago

House Speaker Mike Johnston Calls On Justice Department To Release Epstein Files

On Tuesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson publicly called on the Justice Department to release files…

19 hours ago

Republicans Push Back On Trump’s Proposed 30% National Park Service Cuts

President Donald Trump has proposed a 30% budget cut to the National Park Service (NPS),…

2 days ago