“SNAP (Food Stamps) is a vital tool in empowering Americans in a challenging economy and should not be the sole factor in solving the Nation’s long-term fiscal problems”, said Rep. McLeod.
On September 18, 2013 Rep. Gloria Negrete McLeod asked for and was granted permission to address the United States House of Representatives forone minute regarding the cuts in the food stamp program.
“Mr. Speaker, I want to call attention to the seriousness of the proposed $40 billion cut to the nutrition bill. As a member of the House Agriculture Committee, I am gravely concerned with this bill, as it circumvented proper deliberation before the Agriculture Committee. This bill lacks the transparency required by the American people and is outside the custom and practice of all past farm bills this House has passed.”
“I am ready to vote for a farm bill, but we are no closer to finding a compromise than we were 6 months ago. This issue is about Americans’ ability to eat, as our country struggles to come out of the greatest financial crisis since the Great Depression. SNAP is a vital tool in empowering Americans in a challenging economy and should not be the sole factor in solving the Nation’s long-term fiscal problems. Costs for the program will shrink as the economy improves and people are able to do exactly what Americans want to do: put food on the table”, said Rep. McLeod (source: Congressional Record http://thomas.loc.gov/).
Congresswoman Negrete McLeod is a member of the historic Committee on Agriculture. The Committee has jurisdiction over agriculture, forestry, nutrition, water conservation, bio-terrorism, and other agriculture-related fields. In addition, the Committee is responsible for oversight of the Department of Agriculture. She is also a member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.