Urge Congress to Reject Partisan Farm Bill Proposal and Work Toward a Faithful Farm Bill

If House Agricultural Committee Chair Glenn “GT” Thompson’s partisan Farm Bill proposal becomes law, it would entail a nearly $30 billion cut in SNAP benefits over a decade, marking the largest reduction since the Welfare Reform Act of 1996.

The Presbyterian Church (USA) Office of Public Witness, along with 129 faith-based organizations and the Coalition on Human Needs, urges Congress that a Faithful Farm Bill and one that supports human needs is the only way forward. This bill must prioritize agricultural needs, promote justice for underrepresented farmers, promote climate and conservation measures, and increase funding for nutrition safety-net programs amidst rising inflation costs.

We stand firm that a Faithful Farm Bill is imperative and must uphold the following priorities:

Protect, expand, and strengthen programs that reduce hunger, address food insecurity, and improve nutrition in the United States.
Strengthen policies and programs that address climate change, such as food waste reduction, cutting the agriculture industry’s greenhouse gas emissions, and conservation & protection of natural resources from environmental degradation.
Ensure equitable program implementation to remedy historically underserved communities.
Provide a fair and effective farm safety net that allows farmers, farmworkers, and producers in the U.S. and around the world to earn economically sustainable livelihoods.
Safeguard and improve international food aid in ways that encourage local food security and improve the nutritional quality of food aid.

The proposed cuts in Chairman Thompson’s proposal are unconscionable. For many children, it will make learning more difficult and lead to negative health outcomes. It will force families to choose between putting food on the table and paying for other expenses such as rent, utility bills, or prescription drugs. It will harm our economy by removing the stimulative benefits of SNAP while hurting farmers and ranchers.

The partisan House proposal’s substantial cuts to SNAP and other nutrition programs would have unacceptable consequences on health, development, and healthcare costs. Particularly alarming is the proposal to limit USDA’s ability to update the Thrifty Food Plan to reflect the real costs of a nutritious diet, based on science, along with reflecting food prices that remain stubbornly high. This will make it tougher for families experiencing food insecurity as well as food banks, including those run by our churches that assist them. Adequate nutrition is crucial for the health and well-being of individuals regardless of age.

Additionally, the cuts to the Thrifty Food Plan would significantly impact Summer EBT and The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), reducing crucial support for low-income families and food banks. The failure to transition Puerto Rico into the full SNAP program is also regrettable, as it would undermine the effectiveness of the proposed block grant funding increase.

The Presbyterian Church (USA) Office of Public Witness, alongside our interfaith and secular partners, strongly opposes the bill’s dismantling of guardrails included in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The IRA ensures investment in the most effective climate-saving and conservation practices and counters the large increases from agriculture-caused greenhouse gas emissions. Its passage will affect the health and economic security of all Americans, disproportionately people with low incomes and people of color, and including farmers themselves.

The proposed House Farm Bill undermines key nutrition assistance programs and diverts funds from nutrition assistance. But there is a better way. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) offers a more faithful and favorable alternative. Her framework strengthens SNAP and reduces barriers to participation, provides a pathway for Puerto Rico’s participation, restores eligibility for individuals with drug-related felonies, and addresses farmworker safety.

The Presbyterian Church (USA) Office of Public Witness firmly believes that the House Agricultural Committee's proposed Farm Bill does not align with the principles of a faithful Farm Bill. We urge the Committee to reject this bill and pursue a bipartisan legislative process that comprehensively addresses the needs of all Americans.

Your prophetic voice is needed now as Congress enters Farm Bill negotiations! Please write to your policymakers today.

Presbyterians are invested in serving impoverished and vulnerable communities and have worked tirelessly for decades to implement anti-hunger programs within the denomination. This commitment began over 50 years ago with the creation of the Hunger Program by the General Assembly. Today the commitment continues through the Matthew 25 Movement of the Presbyterian Mission Agency as outlined by the 223rd General Assembly, which shares our dedication to eradicating systemic poverty. SNAP and anti-hunger programs are the biggest way that the United States provides for citizens that live below, at, or slightly above the poverty line. Therefore, supporting anti-hunger programs and nutrition benefits, including SNAP, is a highly impactful legislative act for Presbyterians to take as a way to show our continued commitment to eradicating systemic poverty and ensuring all have access to affordable and nutritious food.