Washington (February 4, 2014) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) released the following statement today after voting against passage of the Farm Bill. The Farm Bill cuts the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by $8.6 billion over ten years. Nationally, it is estimated that 850,000 households will suffer cuts to benefits. In Massachusetts, 125,000 households may lose $70 per month in food assistance. 

 

“Instead of stopping wasteful aid to the wealthiest farmers, the Farm Bill slashes SNAP benefits for the poorest Americans, the elderly and disabled. We have a dire hunger problem in this country, and cuts to the SNAP program will only make it worse. Nearly 50 million people across the country do not have enough food to eat. During this frigid winter, vulnerable families shouldn’t have to choose between heating their home or putting food on the table. SNAP is the most effective anti-hunger program we have. Cuts to the SNAP program mean more Massachusetts families will go hungry, more children will go without nutritious meals, and millions of America’s households will not be able to make ends meet. As our economy continues to recover, we need to continue the fight to ensure that we protect funding for this critical program so that families in need don’t fall through the cracks.”

 

In October, Senator Markey joined a coalition of 38 Senators urging the Farm Bill negotiators to reject cuts to food stamps for millions of children, seniors, and vulnerable families. He urged the negotiators to reject all eligibility changes that would prevent millions of children, seniors, and families facing a constant struggle against hunger from accessing nutritious food and hundreds of thousands of low-income children from accessing free school meals.