Abortion rights, women of color, and LGBTQIA+ people are under attack. Pledge to join us in fighting for gender justice.
Congress Protects Food Assistance for Women and Families by Passing Bipartisan Farm Bill
(Washington, D.C.) Today, the House of Representatives passed a bipartisan Farm Bill conference agreement that protects vital food assistance for millions of women and families, by a vote of 369-47. The Farm Bill conference agreement, which the Senate passed yesterday by a vote of 87-13, rejected draconian proposals to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that were in the House version of the bill. Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), and House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) held firm against the House bill’s proposed SNAP cuts, which would have taken food assistance away from an estimated 2 million people. The bill now goes to President Trump for his signature.
The following is a statement by Fatima Goss Graves, President and CEO of the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC):
“Congress did the right thing by passing a bill that protects critical food assistance that older women, parents, children, people with disabilities and their caregivers, domestic violence survivors, and low-wage working women depend on to put food on the table. Women across the country raised their voices to preserve SNAP—and Congress listened. We will remain vigilant against any threats to this essential program, and we’ll work to ensure that it provides the support millions of women need to feed their families.”
###
For immediate release: December 12, 2018
Contact: Maria Patrick ([email protected])