WASHINGTON, DC—Congressman Jim Himes (CT-4) released the following statement after voting against a Farm Bill that would cut $8.6 billion from the food stamp program known as SNAP while increasing subsidies to farmers:
“While I am heartened that the Farm Bill shows cooperation is not dead in Washington, this was not a piece of legislation I could support. We need to think carefully as a nation about our priorities and enact policies that reflect the type of country we want to build. There is nothing American about making it harder for growing children -- or adults looking for jobs, for that matter -- to get enough food. As the President highlighted in his State of the Union address, opportunity shouldn't be a matter of where you are born, and, especially for children, having enough food is essential to success. It's a lot harder to do well on a math test if you can only think about your growling stomach. I voted against this bill because it would mean taking money out of the hands of those who need it most, while simultaneously increasing many of the agribusiness subsidies we know are inefficient and lead to higher costs. Under the Farm Bill passed by the House today, families will have $90 less per month to shop for groceries. I urge Congress to consider a Farm Bill that increases neither hunger nor inefficient agricultural subsidies.”