WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Thursday, June 21, Republicans in the House of Representatives passed the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018, more commonly known as the Farm Bill. The bill cuts the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by $23 billion, underfunds the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, adds costs to rural development loans, and eliminates the Conservation Stewardship Program, among other provisions.

Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell releases the following statement:

“No child deserves to go to bed hungry, but that is exactly what today’s farm bill will do to countless children across the country by making drastic cuts to our food assistance programs,” said Rep. Terri Sewell. “I voted against today’s farm bill because SNAP is a proven pathway out of poverty for our most vulnerable families, and I believe that cutting that lifeline of support is cruel and short-sighted. In Alabama’s 7th Congressional District, 60,000 households rely on SNAP to put food on the table. For farmers and grocers in our district, cuts to this program mean lost revenue and bad business. I urge Republicans to end their attack on our social safety net and work with Democrats to help working families build a better life.”

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Rep. Terri A. Sewell (D-AL) is serving her fourth term representing Alabama’s 7th Congressional district. She sits on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and was recently appointed to the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. Sewell is a Chief Deputy Whip and serves on the prestigious Steering and Policy Committee of the Democratic Caucus. She is also a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, and serves as Vice Chair of the Congressional Voting Rights Caucus, and Vice Chair of Outreach for the New Democrat Coalition.