Washington, DC—With the support of Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-08), the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Conference Report to H.R. 2, the Agriculture and Nutrition Act, also known as the “Farm Bill.”
While Rep. Fitzpatrick broke with his party and voted against earlier versions of the Farm Bill, he supported this measure as updated provisions in the bill protect the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). In the Pennsylvania 8th Congressional district alone, over 16,000 households rely on this program, according to the USDA.
“I was proud to support the updated Farm Bill, which passed the House with overwhelming bipartisan support. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program serves as our nation’s most effective anti-hunger program. The updated measure ensures that the thousands of families, including our community’s children, seniors, and veterans, maintain the support they need to raise themselves out of poverty,” said Fitzpatrick. “In addition, this bill reauthorizes much-needed assistance programs for our local farmers and producers.”
The approved a 5-year Farm Bill agreement protects thousands of families in our community and charts a better path for America’s farmers and ranchers, rural communities, small businesses, and consumers across the country.
Congressman Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson (PA-05), who is Vice Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, said “Agriculture is Pennsylvania’s No. 1 industry, and thanks to Congressman Fitzpatrick’s vote in favor of this 5-year Farm Bill we can continue to ensure that the Commonwealth remains a national leader. He has been a strong advocate for this important legislation that impacts the lives of everyone in the country.”
The 2018 Farm Bill:
- Protects the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
- Strengthens the farm safety net and provides certainty and flexibility to America’s farmers and ranchers, notably for dairy farmers.
- Protects crop insurance and helps combat predatory practices of foreign countries.
- Maintains and preserves conservation funding to improve our soil, water, and other natural resources, and also improves our response to natural disasters.
- Encourages active forest management and new markets for American forest products.
- Supports beginning farmers and ranchers through a variety of programs encouraging future generations of agriculture.
###