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House passes Farm Bill; expands food assistance


WASHINGTON — Congressman Dan Kildee on Thursday applauded the bipartisan passage of the Farm Bill that included his legislation to expand access to healthy and locally-grown fruits and vegetables in Michigan and prevent cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

The Farm Bill includes Congressman Kildee’s legislation, the Gus Schumacher Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Program Reauthorization of 2018, which doubles funding for the fruit and vegetable incentives program from $125 million to $250 million over the next five years. This will help fund programs that increase access to fruits and vegetables like Michigan’s successful ‘Double Up Food Bucks’ program. These programs double the purchasing power of SNAP benefits if recipients use them to buy nutritious fruits and vegetables at participating local grocery stores and farmers markets.

In addition, Congressman Kildee has fought vigorously against cuts to food assistance, commonly referred to as SNAP. Thursday’s Farm Bill passage makes no cuts to food assistance, which over 1.3 million Michiganders rely on to provide food for themselves and their families. Earlier this year, Congressman Kildee led the fight against a Republican Farm Bill that would have kicked more than 200,000 Michiganders off of the program. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), nearly two thirds of SNAP recipients are children, disabled or elderly.

“I am proud to work with my colleagues on a bipartisan Farm Bill that doubles funding for fruit and vegetable food incentive programs like Michigan’s Double Up Food Bucks program,” Congressman Kildee said. “This Farm Bill supports Michigan’s family farmers and increases access to healthy food for those on food assistance. In Michigan, Double Up Food Bucks has helped thousands of families put healthy fruits and vegetables on the table, including families in Flint who are still dealing with the consequences of the water crisis. I want to thank Senator Debbie Stabenow, along with Congressmen Colin Peterson and Jim McGovern, for their tireless work to pass this legislation.”

“Congressman Dan Kildee has been a longtime champion of SNAP incentives, which are a win for families and for farmers — which means they’re a win for the American people. Such wins are proof both parties can come together to work for the good of the country,” said Oran B. Hesterman, founder & CEO, Fair Food Network.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Farm Bill by a vote of 369-47. The U.S. Senate previously passed the Farm Bill on Dec. 11, 2018, and the bill will now move to the President’s desk.

Since being elected, Congressman Kildee has worked to expand access to locally-grown, affordable and nutritious food for Michigan families. Kildee successfully pushed bipartisan legislation in the 2014 Farm Bill to provide $125 million for SNAP fruit and vegetable incentive programs like Michigan’s successful Double Up Food Bucks Program.

In 2017, Michiganders used $4.5 million in combined SNAP and Double Up Food Bucks sales of fruits and vegetables at over 250 sites, including 95 grocery stores. 95 percent of Michigan residents live in a county with a Double Up Food Bucks site. This program has benefited more than 1,000 farmers in Michigan.

In 2013, Congressman Kildee lived on a food stamp budget for an average Michigander — $31.50, or $4.50 a day — for one week to raise awareness about billions of dollars in SNAP cuts proposed by Republicans.

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