Breaking News: Senate Farm Bill Votes Today

Breaking News: Senate Farm Bill Votes Today A vote to table the SNAP block grant amendment offered by Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) will be debated this morning and voted on today.  (A vote on a sugar amendment is the only other Farm Bill (S. 3240) vote scheduled.)  Meanwhile, The New York Times today editorialized against SNAP cuts and endorsed Senator Kirsten Gillibrand’s (D-NY) amendment to restore the SNAP $4.49 billion heat and eat cut.  Talking Points Against Paul Block Grant Amendment Among reasons to reject Paul Block Grant Amendment, it: would eliminate SNAP and replace it with a block grant with annual funding level permanently frozen at $45 billion, with no adjustment for increases in food prices or poverty.    would cut SNAP funding by $37 billion (45 percent) in FY 2013 and $322 billion over ten years, as estimated by Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. would undermine ability of federal nutrition safety net to respond quickly and efficiently as need increases, whether due to economic downturn or natural disaster. would end the assurance of a basic level of nutrition for all low-income Americans. would risk diversion of funds to purposes other than nutrition purposes. would terminate The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and Food Distribution Program in Indian Reservations (FDPIR), leaving to states how to serve the needs of food bank clients and needy American Indians out of a severely underfunded SNAP block grant. Background on Gillibrand Amendment Already joining Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) as cosponsors of the SNAP benefit restoration amendment are: Senators Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Jack Reed (D-RI), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Scott Brown (R-MA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Richard Blumenthal (D-T), Patty Murray (D-WA), John Kerry (D-MA), Joseph Lieberman (I-CT), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT). For information on the Gillibrand amendment to restore $4.49 billion in SNAP benefits, visit the Farm Bill section of FRAC's website. Feedback and Assistance Please report feedback from Senate offices and reach out for technical assistance on the Paul Amendment to eteller@frac.org or emelcher@frac.org.

Action Needed ASAP This Morning: 1) Call Senators ASAP this morning and urge a “Yes” vote on the motion to table the Paul block grant amendment. 2) Continue to urge Senators to cosponsor Senator Kirsten Gillibrand’s (D-NY) amendment to restore SNAP benefits.