The Farm Bill is a federal law that funds and governs many food and agricultural programs. It must be renewed about every five years and is up for reauthorization now. The largest program in it is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). SNAP provides vital food assistance to people with very low incomes. It also plays an important role in supporting farmers, which is why it is included in the Farm Bill.

The latest proposed Farm Bill includes harmful SNAP cuts. On April 12, 2018, U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway, R-Texas, chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, released his proposed 2018 Farm Bill. It would increase hunger by taking food assistance away from many struggling Americans, including children in working families.

Arise believes we have a shared responsibility to keep our neighbors from going hungry. SNAP should support families and help create jobs and increase wages, not punish people who already have very low incomes. Efforts to cut SNAP when the Farm Bill is reauthorized will put hungry families and rural communities at risk.

Alabama congressmen have an important role to play in reauthorization of the Farm Bill. U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers is a member of the House Agriculture Committee that approved Conaway’s proposal on April 18, 2018, and will continue to play a role as the Farm Bill moves through Congress. U.S. Sen. Doug Jones is an important member of a bipartisan group of Senate moderates. And U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby is the new chairman of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee. As our members of Congress consider the 2018 Farm Bill, they should ensure SNAP stays robust to help small farmers, boost the retail economy and keep food on the tables of struggling Alabama families.

Read policy analyst Carol Gundlach’s fact sheet for more on how SNAP works, how SNAP and its participants contribute to the economy, and how proposed new SNAP limits would hurt Alabama.