Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013

Floor Speech

Ms. CLARKE. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in vehement opposition to H.R. 2642, the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013. Specifically, I oppose separating nutrition assistance programs from the agricultural subsidies programs and this is exactly what this bill does.

Agricultural and nutrition assistance programs have traditionally moved through Congress as part of the same authorizing legislation, allowing us to comprehensively address both issues.

This amalgamation has united urban and rural areas of America, serving as a manifestation of the connection shared between these seemingly disparate communities.

Divorcing food stamps from agricultural subsidies would halt much-needed action that insures funding for food assistance to low-income Americans.
Republicans accuse Democrats of playing politics with farm issues, yet they propose a two-bill strategy that is likely to stagnate any progress toward assisting the nation's most vulnerable populations.

The moment has arrived in our Congress where we have the ability to pass legislation that ensures a child can focus on a homework assignment without the distraction of hunger, guarantees healthy meals to struggling families who have been hit hard by the recent economic downturn, and lends to the economic advancement of communities across the country.

Forty-seven million people experience food insecurity in the United States. In New York alone, over three million New Yorkers receive food stamps. This bill as it currently stands is an attack on the nutrition programs, specifically food stamps.
We have an unparalleled moment of opportunity to generate policy that is in tune with the circumstances of ALL of the American people--those in both rural and urban communities.

Decoupling the nutrition programs from the agricultural subsidies programs will in effect be the death nail for the food stamps program. There will be no incentives for conservatives to support nutritional programs if this decoupling occurs, which is why I oppose this bill.

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