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HOUSE AG COMMITTEE MEMBER REP. SCOTT DESJARLAIS LEADS SIGNIFICANT WELFARE REFORM IN FARM BILL, SUPPORTS TENNESSEE FARMERS AND RANCHERS
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives made significant reforms to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in agriculture legislation that passed by a narrow margin. Congressman Scott DesJarlais, a member of the House Agriculture Committee and the Subcommittee on Nutrition, which oversees the federal food stamp program, provided a crucial vote to help farmers and ranchers in his rural district.
“The 2018 farm bill contains programs that support Tennessee farmers and ranchers, as well as the rural communities they call home. It develops rural broadband and makes changes to the food stamp program to ensure it remains for those who truly need it. With training for the modern economy, where almost 7 million jobs are waiting for them, more able-bodied Americans will re-enter the workforce,” said Rep. DesJarlais (TN-04).
As the economy has improved, food stamp rolls should have declined by a much higher figure, said the Congressman, but skewed incentives are locking healthy, working-age adults in poverty. “Broad eligibility standards, poor data-keeping and automation for administrative functions requiring human attention are inflating food stamp numbers,” said Rep. DesJarlais.
“The good news is that millions of people are finding better paying jobs and leaving government dependency programs. The better news is that we can help millions more to lead productive lives in a growing economy, while preserving assistance for the needy.
“Eighty percent of Americans agree with Republicans’ education and training efforts in the farm bill,” he said. In the 115th Congress, Rep. DesJarlais has seen first-hand the impact career and technical education can have on his constituents in Tennessee’s Fourth District and has voted to streamline vocational training grants to states, in addition to his work to improve work requirements in SNAP.
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