Ag Policy Blog

OMAHA (DTN) -- Members of the House Agriculture Committee on Wednesday remained locked in debate over planned cuts to nutrition programs as Democrats pushed back on GOP plans to shift more costs to the states.

As of 4:30 CDT on Wednesday, the House Agriculture Committee had not voted on a laundry list of Democratic amendments waiting for roll call votes. The committee took a break for some floor votes. The committee's debate was expected to carry at least into Wednesday evening.

The Agriculture Committee is just one of the committees holding markups this week on different sections of the farm bill to add to a budget reconciliation package the House is putting together meant primarily to extend the 2017 tax cuts. The "One, Big Beautiful Bill" as it is being called also would cut social spending in programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

The Agriculture Committee also has crafted several farm-bill provisions that would increase reference prices in the commodity title and expand crop insurance for farmers.

While debate within the committee revolves mainly around the SNAP cuts, a series of farm groups praised sections of the bill that boost the farmer safety net.

Lawmakers began Tuesday night with a four-hour session made up primarily of Democrats speaking at length leveling their criticisms over the $290 billion in SNAP cuts. Republicans were brief in their remarks mainly declaring their support for the bill.

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn "GT" Thompson, R-Pa., stressed that SNAP costs have risen by 80% since 2019 while the payment error rate nationally averages nearly 12%. "Clearly SNAP is not working as Congress intended," Thompson said.

Under the bill, states would pay at least 5% of the SNAP benefit costs starting in 2028. States with higher error rates on payments could end up paying to 25%, which could top $1 billion on some states. The bill also increases state administrative costs as well. Another provision would tighten rules around SNAP eligibility, especially for people considered able-bodied people without dependents who are not meeting work requirements for the program.

Rep. Angie Craig, D-Minn., the committee's ranking member, criticized the partisan process, noting the committee wasn't meeting to do a traditional farm bill markup. She and other Democrats repeatedly pointed out the average SNAP benefit is about $6 a day. The $290 billion in cuts, she said, amount to the largest rollback of an anti-hunger program in the country's history.

"You don't build a life on SNAP. You build a bridge to the next paycheck, the next opportunity, that next moment of stability," Craig said.

Republicans highlighted some of the challenges facing farmers right now and how the package will help the rural economy.

"Farmers are struggling with production costs up over 30% and commodity prices relatively low and they are in desperate need of some degree of relief," said Rep. Tracey Mann, R-Kansas.

Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa, said the bill would offer "much needed relief" to producers.

"You look at our farming community and they are struggling economically," Feenstra said. "You ask each and every one of them, they don't know how they are going to make their next operational loan payment."

The rhetoric over the SNAP cuts escalated Tuesday evening and carried into the debate on Wednesday.

"We're talking about food and I can't get over the fact that SNAP is on the chopping block to pay for tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires. That is where this process is all about," said Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass.

While most of the farm-program provisions in the bill match last year's version, Rep. Nikki Budzinski, D-Ill., pointed out "one glaring omission" from last year. Republicans had included a provision that would eliminate the Agriculture secretary's ability to use the Commodity Credit Corp. (CCC) fund for emergencies or market programs. Republicans last year claimed the move saved $50 billion, but the same language was stripped from the current bill.

"It's interesting now the CCC is left intact, shortly after the administration launched a needless trade war impacting the markets our farmers need," Budzinski said.

The Trump administration in 2018-29 tapped the CCC for $27 billion in trade aid due to the tariff dispute with China.

Farm groups praised some of the changes in the agricultural policies and boosts in spending for those programs.

Chuck Conner, president of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, commended Thompson for including some key farm bill provisions. "Updating reference prices and commodity title payments to reflect today's economic realities is critical," Conner said. "America's farmers cannot endure another year of uncertainty following the expiration of the last farm bill. Additionally, the proposal to double funding for market development programs is a timely and necessary step to expand export opportunities amid continued trade volatility."

The National Milk Producers Federation also said the group is pleased that the bill extends the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program through 2031. The group noted the package also shifts the program's production history calculation to use a farmer's highest production year out of 2021, 2022, or 2023, an update that better reflects recent on-farm production levels.

Specialty group crops also praised the new provisions, including groups representing apple and blueberry growers. Groups pointed to provisions that support research and double the funding for trade promotion programs, for instance.

The National Family Farm Coalition (NFFC) pushed back on the SNAP cuts. The group stated the provisions threaten the chances of passing a full, five-year farm bill.

"Draconian cuts to SNAP used to pay for tax cuts for millionaires and corporations, as well as increased funding for programs that only benefit the very wealthiest farmers on the largest farms, lock in an unsustainable food system that threatens small farmers and working families alike," NFFC stated. "Beyond inexcusably manufacturing more food insecurity, cuts to SNAP will disproportionately harm rural communities and independent farmers, many of whom generate revenue from SNAP participants who choose to spend their money on locally-grown food."

For more details on commodity provisions in the bill, see "House Ag Plan Boosts Farmer Safety Net While Slashing SNAP Costs," https://www.dtnpf.com/…

Chris Clayton can be reached at Chris.Clayton@dtn.com

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