House Ag Chairman Says Nutrition Title Will Not Separate From Farm Bill

House Ag Committee Chairman GT Thompson (R-PA) speaks to reporters after the Farm Bill listening session hosted Aug. 14th, 2023 at the 121st Missouri State Fair in Sedalia. (Photo by Kyle Hill, Alpha Ag Network)

Amid efforts by members of the Freedom Caucus to make another push to split nutrition benefits from the rest of the Farm Bill, House Ag Committee Chairman GT Thompson made clear Monday his position on the idea:

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Speaking after the Farm Bill listening session at the Missouri State Fairgrounds, Thompson said that while nutrition benefits like SNAP make up an overwhelming majority of the Farm Bill, virtually all the food purchased by the program is grown on the farm.

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Thompson added that following the deal earlier this year to raise the debt ceiling, the nutrition title is now also a workforce development program.

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Efforts to change SNAP benefits led to the current Farm Bill failing on the House floor in May 2018, before amended versions were approved the following month. However, it would take another six months for lawmakers to reconcile and eventually approve the measure.