Debate over the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program dominated last week’s markup of Farm Bill 2.0 in the House Agriculture Committee. SNAP accounts for the largest share of farm bill spending, and lawmakers clashed over the program’s cost and oversight as they worked through amendments before advancing the proposal. House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig pushed back on claims of widespread fraud, saying the program’s track record tells a different story. “I just want to continue to level set for the committee, the SNAP program has one of, if not the lowest, error rate of any government program.” Massachusetts Congressman Jim McGovern also criticized the focus on nutrition spending, arguing that lawmakers are targeting food assistance while ignoring other federal spending. “We’re all upset about nickel and diming people who get an average of $2 per person per meal to put food on the table, but when it comes to defense contractors that are ripping American taxpayers off, there’s silence.” Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson defended the proposal, noting SNAP represents about $1.1 trillion of the farm bill’s estimated $1.3 trillion 10-year cost and rejecting claims the legislation weakens nutrition assistance.
