Feeding America Opposes Split Farm Bill

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Jul 11, 2013, 04:17 ET

CHICAGO, July 11, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Earlier today, the House of Representatives approved a stripped down Farm Bill that excluded federal nutrition assistance programs. Feeding America, the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity, opposes efforts to break apart the Farm Bill and sever the longstanding link between farm and food programs.

The Farm Bill impacts a variety of activities of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Policies and programs in one title are often connected to policies and programs in other titles. Removing the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and other federal nutrition programs from the Farm Bill ignores the reality that our nation's food and agriculture policy must also address the needs of those who struggle to afford enough food for their families.

"At the end of the day, what matters most is ensuring that federal anti-hunger programs are protected from funding cuts and harmful policy changes," said Bob Aiken, CEO of Feeding America. "We must continue to ensure that vulnerable, low-income Americans get the help they need."

"As the Farm Bill reauthorization moves forward, we must not lose sight of the fact that millions of struggling families rely on SNAP and The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) to put food on the table," Aiken continued. "Cuts to these programs would result in lost meals."

Feeding America strongly urges Congress to work together to maintain Washington's long-standing bipartisan commitment to hunger-relief and to protect and strengthen federal nutrition assistance programs as the Farm Bill process moves forward.

About Feeding America
Feeding America is a nationwide network of more than 200 food banks that leads the fight against hunger in the United States. Together, we provide food to more than 37 million people through 61,000 food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters in communities across America. Feeding America also supports programs that improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Individuals, charities, businesses and government all have a role in ending hunger. Donate. Volunteer. Advocate. Educate. Together we can solve hunger. Visit http://www.feedingamerica.org/. Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FeedingAmericaor follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/FeedingAmerica.

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Shannon Traeger
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SOURCE Feeding America