On the House floor today, Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R., Va.) discussed next week’s legislative schedule, which will include a measure regarding the SNAP program, The Nutrition Reform and Work Opportunity Act.
From MSNBC- Sept. 12- “Next week, House Republicans are expected to vote on a bill sponsored by Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA) that would cut the nation’s food stamp program by $40 billion over the next 10 years–a move that would kick four to six million Americans off of food stamps. These cuts are coming at a time when nearly 15% of U.S. households–or 49 million Americans–are living in “food insecure” households.
“About 48 million Americans are currently on food stamps, but these households are still struggling to put food on their tables. According to USDA estimates, about half of households that received food stamps suffered from some amount of food security, largely because the subsidy is so small. The average food stamp benefit per person, per month is $133, which translates to $1.50 per day, per meal.
Mike Lillis reported yesterday at The Hill Online that, “The top Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee has launched a new strategy for passing a farm bill this year: threaten to send milk prices skyrocketing.
“Rep. Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) said he called Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack this week suggesting that the agency begin the process of implementing the 1949-era dairy policies that would take effect Oct. 1 if Congress fails to act on a farm bill before then.