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Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

Floor Speech

Date: July 11, 2012
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Health and Health Care

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to oppose the deep cuts proposed to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

The SNAP program provides low-income families, our disableds, and our elderly essential access to healthy foods. We should not ask our most vulnerable citizens to go hungry to balance the Federal budget. A cut of $16 billion in SNAP benefits will not achieve that balanced budget.

SNAP benefits not only provide needed nutritional support to recipients; they support local economies and our farm operations by boosting sales of fresh fruit and vegetables at farmers markets and local grocery stores. Our Nation's farmers and ranchers produce high-quality abundant foods in a system that is the envy of the world.

There is no reason for anyone to go hungry in the United States. Let's produce a food and farm bill that each day gives farmers a fair deal and ensures all of our citizens nutritious meals.


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