Washington, DC (June 29, 2018) – The Quaker lobby, the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL), applauds the Senate for protecting vital nutrition programs in the Senate Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, which passed with strong bipartisan support in an 86-11 vote last night.
Contact: Adlai Amor, Friends Committee on National Legislation - media@fcnl.org; 202-903-2536
“The Senate farm bill builds on SNAP’s success by improving it, expanding pilot programs for underserved populations, and better connecting recipients with effective jobs training,” said Diane Randall, Executive Secretary of FCNL. “We are thankful that lawmakers voted against any harmful amendments to SNAP. We call on the Congress to maintain this strong bipartisan bill when they reconcile it with the House version.”
Unlike the House version of the Farm Bill, the Senate bill protects the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) from changes that would cut SNAP benefits for two million Americans.
Contact: Adlai Amor, Friends Committee on National Legislation - media@fcnl.org; 202-903-2536
Passed last week, the House version eliminates state flexibility to respond to the needs of their communities by ending broad-based categorical eligibility and limiting state waivers. It also creates new bureaucracy that states are ill-prepared to manage without providing the necessary funding to implement it.
“Senators Pat Roberts and Debbie Stabenow have provided bipartisan leadership, resulting in a good bill. This bill protects and strengthens SNAP, supporting the millions of families across this country struggling to make ends meet,” added Randall. “The Senate bill is more responsive to people in need and to the integrity of effective government. We urge Congress to maintain these protections in conference.”
FCNL’s advocacy on the farm is based in the belief that God is in every person and that all creation has worth and dignity. Earlier this month, FCNL led 58 national faith-based organizations in signing a letter articulating their principles for a farm bill that protects and strengthens nutrition assistance programs.
To learn more, please visit www.fcnl.org.
*Diane Randall and Amelia Kegan are available for interviews to discuss FCNL’s position on the Farm Bill. Please reach out to Adlai Amor at media@fcnl.org or 202-903-2536 for inquiries.
