SNAP

Floor Speech

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak against the cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in the FARRM Bill on this Juneteenth 2013.

As the Nation's most important antihunger program, SNAP offers nutrition assistance to 46 million low-income Americans and provides economic benefits to communities. SNAP also allows families to more easily set aside a portion of their resources for food and to prioritize a healthier, more consistent diet without compromising on obligations such as rent, utilities, and transportation.

The proposed FARRM Bill would cut $20.5 billion from the SNAP program and leave over 66,000 Texans without any assistance. We cannot allow the budget to be balanced on the backs of the poor and the most vulnerable in our country.

I did the SNAP challenge. I lived on $4.50 for 1 day, and I can tell you that is not easy, especially if you're trying to eat healthy. We need to find ways to fund federally funded nutrition incentive programs that will help hardworking taxpayers save money on health care costs in this country.

For many Americans, SNAP is the only form of income assistance they receive. I join my colleagues in supporting the McGovern amendment, which eliminates the draconian cuts to ensure that 46 million people who rely on this program will have food on their dinner table each night.

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