Press Releases

07/11/13

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 11, 2013


Washington, DC – Congresswoman Donna F. Edwards (MD-4) released the following statement today on H.R. 2642, the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management (FARRM) Act. The bill introduced last night resembles the one rejected by the House in June, with the exception that it eliminates provisions funding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).  SNAP is a critical program that feeds millions of hungry children and families across the United States. The bill passed the House by a vote of 216-208.

“In June, the House failed to pass a Farm Bill when my Republican colleagues decided to place partisan policies ahead of America’s farmers and families.  Last night, House Republicans decided stunningly to double down on those policies by eliminating SNAP provisions to feed hungry families, including 200,000 in Maryland, in the hopes that this would garner more Republican support.  This is an unbelievable statement about the current nature of the Farm Bill and the make-up of the House Republican conference, which is divided over whether it even wants this bill to go to conference on the off chance that the Congress might enact a law.   Yet, while Republicans continue to play politics with a historically nonpartisan bill, they threaten the nation’s farmers, ranchers, food safety, and the 16 million American jobs linked directly to the agriculture industry.

“There is a bipartisan solution that supports America’s farmers, maintains our nutrition programs, advances real reform to crop insurance, and provides strong investments in renewable energies. Unfortunately, the American people have once again played spectator to a Republican sideshow that has no chance of becoming law. That’s a shame.”