Led by House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member David Scott (D), democratic representatives wrote a letter to Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R) expressing concern for the status of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
“We are writing today to express our concerns about continued comments from your leadership team that could jeopardize the consideration and passage of a bipartisan farm bill in the House,” reads the statement.
The letter warns of the harmful effects of meddling with the program.
“You have seen what happens when leadership gets involved in dictating the details of the farm bill, particularly when the issue involved is SNAP, the safety net for America’s working poor and elderly.”
Previous iterations of the Farm Bill were affected by the differences across party lines. The letter further emphasizes the importance of the program for farmers and ranchers.
“The failures of the 2014 and 2018 House versions of the farm bill their first time up for consideration caused a great deal of anxiety in rural America. That should be enough of a reminder to you that playing partisan SNAP politics does nothing to address the needs of our farm and ranch families who depend on the other components of the farm bill, whether it’s the farm safety net, conservation, trade or other titles.”
“We all asked to be on the House Agriculture Committee because we value its bipartisan nature, which has traditionally been the key to the Committee’s success in getting farm bills done. And we have been heartened by Chairman Thompson’s comments to date about the bill being bipartisan and not going after SNAP,” continues the statement.
The letter requests that the bill is not tampered with, but instead left to the members of the committee.
“As we work on the 2023 Farm Bill, we would ask that you continue to honor that tradition by letting the Committee work its will, and then respect the product that comes out of our process later this Fall.”
“The continued threat of making additional changes to SNAP eligibility or benefits is not helpful and even undermines Chairman Thompson as he works with his Democratic and Republican membership to bring a bipartisan farm bill out of the Agriculture Committee.”
“Our nation’s hungry and those who grow their food deserve a bipartisan farm bill to address their needs.”
Texas Congressman Greg Casar (D), who signed the letter, expressed his desire to protect SNAP from meddling and politicians who wish to change the bill.
“.@HouseAgDems will always #DefendSNAP — no matter how many times @SpeakerMcCarthy and House Republican leadership try to take food from the mouths of children and working families in order to finance their corporate tax cuts.”
.@HouseAgDems will always #DefendSNAP — no matter how many times @SpeakerMcCarthy and House Republican leadership try to take food from the mouths of children and working families in order to finance their corporate tax cuts. https://t.co/JjXjEMy8Oj
— Congressman Greg Casar (@RepCasar) August 10, 2023
In other news, in a 5-4 ruling, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) is allowing the Biden administration to regulate firearms known as “ghost guns.”
Ghost guns are firearms that come from kits sold online and assembled at home.
The controversial weapons present an issue for law enforcement because of how difficult they are to track.
The three liberal justices on the court were joined by two conservative justices, Amy Coney Barrett and John Roberts.
Texas State Senator Roland Gutierrez (D) commended the ruling, stating "Great news coming out of the Supreme Court. When I get to the Senate, I will support regulations over untraceable ghost guns. Regulating these firearms is just one way we can protect Americans from gun violence.”
“Gun violence is the leading cause of death for children in America. Our young kids are dying in schools nationwide because politicians refuse to change gun laws,” said the state senator in a previous statement.
Though there has been bipartisan support for new gun legislation, there has been pushback from Republican lawmakers as well.
“The so-called ‘grown-ups’ need to listen to their kids right now. The officers sworn to protect them chose to cower in fear. The Republican Legislature that makes the law is doing nothing,” stated the Texan politician.
