Cleaver: Farm Bill guts $20 billion from SNAP, will increase poverty in America

(From Fifth District Congressman Emanuel Cleaver)

This week I spoke on the House floor about the 2018 Farm Bill;

"Mr. Speaker, I want to begin by saying that there are a lot of things in this Farm Bill that I agree with and would like to be a partner in getting them passed. For the last 50 years, Democrats and Republicans have worked together to combine food and farming programs in a bipartisan effort.

However, when discussing the 2018 Farm Bill, which will come up for a vote very soon, I want to also shed light on some things that don’t quite add up. That aren’t what I would call common sense. In essence, this bill aims to restrict eligibility and reduce benefits for the nation’s most effective anti-hunger program: SNAP (formerly known as food stamps). Moreover, this proposed bill dumps a massive burden on state governments.

Therefore, although I intend to be an active partner in the final passage of this legislation, I cannot and will not support the 2018 Farm Bill until the necessary changes are made.

If enacted, this bill will deal damaging blows to the very heart of America by gutting nearly $20 billion from SNAP, resulting in higher levels of hunger, poverty, and critical health problems. I want to take a minute to remind my colleagues, and those who are watching at home, who these SNAP recipients are.

• In my home state of Missouri, SNAP reached 759,000 residents--more than 10% of the population. That’s 1 in 8 Missourians.

• SNAP kept 221,000 people out of poverty in Missouri, including 109,000 children.

We should be doing more to help these families, not throwing them to the wind. This bill will force people out of a program that was put in place to help them when they need a helping hand. To be a backstop in times of emergency. Just like farmers have a backstop with crop insurance or commodity programs.

It is there for them if there is a drought or if their fields are flooded. Have we really become so disconnected from the day to day realities individuals face that we cannot see the horrific burden this legislation will place on them?


Ladies and gentlemen, our fellow Americans depend on this program to feed their families. Yes, there is always room for improvement, but that does not signal us to put the brakes on things that are helping people in need.

These individuals are not idle or inactive people taking advantage of the government, but rather they are hardworking citizens trying to get back on their feet. They are recently unemployed fathers, attempting to care for their children.

They are overworked mothers, desperately trying to make ends meet. They are aging Americans, attempting to overcome the difficulties of growing old in a fast-paced and often times unforgiving work environment.

Most working-age adults on SNAP who can work, already do so. Unfortunately, low-paying jobs with unreliable hours and little to no benefits are all too common. Without basic benefits, having a sick child, a transportation snafu, or a scheduling conflict can often mean a worker loses their job.

Workers are more likely to participate in SNAP when they lose a job or their income is low, which explains why many aren’t working and why they may need SNAP. By raising the age requirement from 49 to 59, we are also guaranteeing that many aging Americans will be unable to receive these benefits. It is a sad fact that people over 50 have a harder time finding employment. If you take that away the ability to get food, you are basically taking away their survival.

This proposal runs contrary to the purpose of SNAP.

As Representatives of the United States of America, it is our responsibility to pass legislation that is proactive, not reactive. It is also our responsibility to understand the very real and human consequences that could take place if this legislation is passed as it currently stands.

Once again, let me remind you of the fact the SNAP program is the most effective way to combat food insecurity. Cutting the funding for this program simply just does not make sense. The fact that in the year 2018, there are still children and adults in American that go hungry is absolutely appalling. Therefore, it is our moral obligation to support programs such as SNAP by refusing to support this legislation until we make the changes necessary to insure the prosperous future for our people.

Thank you."