WASHINGTON — On Wednesday, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) secretary Thomas Vilsack urged the House Agriculture Committee to pass a full five-year extension of the Farm Bill, after doing a temporary extension last year.
“It is a broad opportunity to say to rural America and American agriculture that we care, that we're investing in their future, and we're providing stability,” Vilsack said. “The failure to have a Farm Bill creates uncertainty.”
In addition to agriculture programs, the majority of funding in the bill goes to SNAP, the supplemental nutrition assistance program.
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities found that one in eight Wisconsin residents benefitted from SNAP in fiscal year 2022.
Many Democrats brought up concerns about potential cuts to the program, once known as food stamps, which helps low-income families pay for groceries.
“Whether you call it a cut, or reduction of future benefits, Democrats oppose it. We will not cut SNAP,” said Rep. David Scott, D-Georgia.
Some Republicans in Congress have considered cutting SNAP spending and putting in new work requirements for recipients, changes that the Democrat-controlled Senate and President Joe Biden likely will oppose.
Congressman Derrick Van Orden, R-Prairie du Chien, said he supports work requirements.
“I worked probably 80 to 100 hours a week as a [Navy] SEAL,” he said. “Asking a healthy adult without dependents to work as they're getting benefits, I don't know who disagrees with that. So, let's remember, that's not a single mom like I was raised by. That is a healthy adult without dependents.”
Van Orden, who is the only representative from Wisconsin on the House Committee on Agriculture, said he grew up relying on food stamps. He said Republicans need to understand this program is a hand-up, not a hand-out, and it has merit. However, he also said Democrats must realize that there is fraud within the program that needs to be addressed.
Van Orden said he doesn’t believe SNAP funding will be cut in the new Farm Bill but expressed concerns about stolen benefits.
“Every single dollar that is fraudulently expended is a dollar that can’t go to feed a hungry child. And that’s not OK,” he said.
Another Republican asked how undocumented immigrants seeking assistance impact the program.
“We need transparency in order to make sure people are taken care of. There's been a shortfall this year in funding for the SNAP program. There's been fraud,” Rep. Scott DesJarlais, R-Tennessee, said.
“Let's be clear about this,” Vilsack responded. “I am saying that people who are not here legally are not allowed to participate in SNAP. I will acknowledge that we have work to do on fraud. But I will tell you, it is our partners who have work to do. It's the states who administer these programs.”
Lawmakers are inching closer to a government funding deadline. Vilsack stressed the importance of passing a budget to fund the USDA so it can support producers and consumers.