Walz Statement on Partisan, Harmful Tea Party Nutrition Bill

Press Release

Today, Representative Tim Walz, D-Minn., released the following statement after Republican Leadership in the House bent yet again to the demands of the Tea Party by attempting to undo the bipartisan work of the Agriculture Committee and force through a partisan bill that will take food directly out of the mouths of hardworking families, senior citizens, and veterans while causing uncertainty in rural America. Rep. Walz is the Ranking Member of the Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy, and Forestry.

"While I believe there is room to make reforms to the Nutrition program, I also believe that no one should go hungry in America. This partisan, divisive bill unnecessarily punishes hardworking American families, their children, veterans, and senior citizens who are struggling to put food on the table, which is why I opposed it today.

"It's time for the Tea Party led House to stop the political games and start doing the work. America needs a Farm Bill that will give both producers and consumers certainty. The time is now to appoint a Farm Bill conference committee and pass a bipartisan, long-term Farm Bill into law."

Three fourths of households receiving SNAP benefits include a child, senior citizen, or someone who is disabled. SNAP recipients, on average, currently receive $1.40 per meal, or $4.20 a day.

Under the proposed Tea Party plan, 32,000 Minnesotans and 4 million Americans nationwide (including 170,000 veterans) could lose their SNAP benefits and go hungry.

The current Farm Bill expires at the end of September.

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