I don’t want to find us in another situation where leadership steps in and mucks this up by adding unrealistic work requirements or some other ideological policy that would blow up the whole bill.
Opening Statement by Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Collin C. Peterson
Subcommittee on Nutrition
The Next Farm Bill: The Future of SNAP
--As Prepared for Delivery--
“Thank you Chairman Thompson and Ranking Member McGovern for holding today’s hearing. And welcome, today’s witnesses, to the Agriculture Committee. I’m looking forward to hearing your testimony.
“This hearing is titled, “The Next Farm Bill: The Future of SNAP.” I believe the future of SNAP is in the farm bill. And, I think everyone knows by now that I doubt we’ll even have a farm bill without it.
“I know there are other members of the Committee, other members of the House and Senate, who agree with that assessment but I worry that House leadership isn’t on that same page. And I don’t want to find us in another situation where leadership steps in and mucks this up by adding unrealistic work requirements or some other ideological policy that would blow up the whole bill.
“The Committee’s review of SNAP covered a lot of issues. We heard about the success of the program and also some ways that we may be able to improve performance. I hope we can keep these facts in mind and find some common ground to make sure SNAP is as effective as possible.
“So, again, I’m not quite sure where SNAP policy is headed but the farm bill is where it needs to stay. I thank the Chair and yield back.”
