(Washington) - Congressman John B. Larson released the following statement today on the passage of H.R. 2642, The Agricultural Act of 2014, by the U.S. House of Representatives:

"Today, the House passed a farm bill that once again puts the needs of big agribusinesses ahead of the small farmer and families in need.

"This bill asks our most vulnerable households to choose between heating their homes and feeding their families. While the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) was spared an outrageous $40 billion in cuts nationally, states like Connecticut would be forced to reduce benefits for the most vulnerable. Seniors, veterans, the disabled and young children would watch already scarce food assistance be further reduced by an average of $90 a month.

"I would like to commend Congressman Joe Courtney for fighting for improvements to the new dairy insurance program, which is so important to the small dairy farmers in Connecticut. While the bill contained other promising reforms such as the reauthorization of the National Oilheat Research Alliance and whole-farm insurance, I could not in good conscience support this bill and a Congress that continues to subsidize big Agriculture, big Oil and Wall Street while the poorest amongst us are going hungry. That is not the America that I know.”

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