Congresswoman Barbara Lee Applauds Action to Protect SNAP, House Defeat of Farm Bill
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 20, 2013
Contact: Carrie Adams (202) 225-2661
Washington, D.C.— Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement on the defeat of the Farm Bill:
“I am so proud of my colleagues who joined me in the fight against the Republican’s attack on our social safety net. This Farm Bill added insult to injury for the nation’s poor. It was heartless, it was reckless, and now, I’m proud to say, it has failed.
“The Republicans’ proposed $20 billion in cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) were unconscionable and short sighted, and beating the Farm Bill today is an incredible victory for the nation’s poor and vulnerable. The President’s veto threat went a long way in garnering support for the defeat of this bill.
“To all the people across the country who heeded the call to tell their Members of Congress how terrible this bill truly was, to all the Members, advocacy groups, and faith leaders who joined in the SNAP Challenge with me this week: thank you!
“Now, it’s time to go back to the drawing board and get a Farm Bill that is fair, doesn’t undermine the dignity of our nation’s vulnerable, and protects our nation’s social safety net.”
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Follow Barbara Lee on Facebook and Twitter at @RepBarbaraLee. To learn more, visit lee.house.gov.
Congresswoman Lee is a member of the Appropriations and Budget Committees, the Steering and Policy Committee, is a Senior Democratic Whip, former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and Progressive Caucus. She serves as chair of the newly formed Whip’s Task Force on Poverty and Opportunity.