House passes $390B farm bill with deep SNAP cuts, sparking backlash
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a $390 billion farm bill on 30 April 2023, following a near party-line vote. The legislation includes major changes to food assistance programs, sparking concern among Catholic and anti-poverty groups. Over 3 million people have already lost SNAP benefits since mid-2022 due to earlier reductions. The new farm bill locks in roughly $187 billion in cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) over the next decade. If enacted, these reductions would further shrink support for low-income families already affected by previous benefit losses. The bill also introduces state cost-sharing requirements, which Catholic organisations argue should be delayed to prevent additional hardship.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has called for maintaining the farm bill’s traditional bipartisan approach. Their priorities include preserving SNAP funding, ending the felony-based ban on SNAP participation, and gradually integrating Puerto Rico into the full program over ten years. Catholic advocates are also pushing to strengthen international food aid initiatives, which they say remain critical for global hunger relief. The bill now moves to the Senate, where its future remains unclear. Lawmakers in the upper chamber are expected to propose significant amendments before returning it to the House for further debate.
The House’s version of the farm bill faces opposition from groups worried about deep SNAP cuts and new cost-sharing rules. If the Senate alters the legislation, both chambers will need to reconcile their differences before a final vote. The outcome will determine whether millions of vulnerable households retain access to essential food assistance.
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