Lankford: Farm bill would have made significant reforms

Washington, DC — Despite the bill failing to pass the House today, House Republican Policy Committee Chairman James Lankford (R-OK) voted in favor of H.R. 1947, the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act. 

“I am disappointed that the many significant reforms in this important bill did not pass the House today,” said Lankford.

“I was proud to stand with my friend and fellow Oklahoman, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas, in support of the significant reforms this bill made to a number of farm support and food programs. Farmers, who have worked with Chairman Lucas and the Agriculture Committee to provide clarity on outdated agriculture programs, encouraged the significant reforms in this bill.  I personally heard from a number of Oklahoma farmers and ranchers impacted by this bill who supported it.

“The bill made three important reforms to the SNAP food stamp program that protect qualified beneficiaries from fraudulent use of benefits. The legislation required that beneficiaries actually qualify for benefits and use the food stamps for food. It also allowed states to add a work requirement to receive SNAP benefits that applied to able-bodied workers without dependents. SNAP is intended to be a transitional safety net for needy Americans. People who are fraudulently receiving benefits are taking resources away from the families who need them most.

“While this bill did not have every reform I would have preferred, it significantly reformed the broken status quo,” concluded Lankford.

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Contact: Kelly Ferguson (202) 225-2132