US House farm bill and food stampcuts

The House and Senate Committees worked this week to reduce the size of the federal food stamp programme.

10:00 18 May 2013

The House and Senate Agriculture Committees are set to approve farm bills that will reduce the $80bn-a-year budget for the food stamp program and will change the way people qualify for it.

 

Deep divide in congress was seen as the two chambers were not on the same page as to how they would cut the $80billion-program. The House bill would cut $2.5billion a year from the said program, which is used by 1 in 7 Americans. 

 

The passage of the massive five-year farm bill will now depend on the lawmakers’ ability to resolve their differences and beliefs. The far-reaching bill, which cost almost $100billion would set policy for farm subsidies, rural programs, and food aid. 

 

The cuts will be achieved by changing the eligibility categories that automatically gives people some benefits when they sign up for certain programmes.

 

It would also save thousands of dollars by focusing on giving people on particular states who don’t have heating bills very small amounts of heating assistance. These people will then be automatically qualified for higher food stamp benefits.