House Republicans passed a farm bill passed on Thursday, which for the first time since 1973 excluded the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), widely referred to as food stamps. Not a single Democrat voted for the bill.
“I think it’s a disaster,” said New Mexico Democratic Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Saturday. “The notion that we would do that without addressing starving children and families is outrageous.”
In 2012, an average of over 22 million households participated in SNAP monthly. Historically, food stamps and nutrition are the largest part of the farm bill, and the costliest, with about 80% of the bill supporting nutritional programs.
The White House criticized the bill, calling SNAP a “cornerstone” of America’s “food assistance safety net.” Obama has threatened to veto the House version of the bill.
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