KEY VOTE: "YES" on Huelskamp #101, Pitts #98, and Kind # 47

"YES" on Huelskamp #101, Pitts #98, and Kind # 47

This week, the House is considering amendments to the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013 (H.R. 1947), commonly referred to as the Farm Bill but more accurately described as the Food Stamp and Farm Bill. Heritage Action is key voting the following three amendments.

"YES" on Huelskamp Amendment #101

Amendment #101 offered by Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-Ks.) creates additional work requirements for SNAP recipients and raises the total reduction in spending to $31 billion. Heritage explains the "farm" bill maintains historically high levels of food stamp spending—the program doubled under Pres. George W. Bush and doubled again under Pres. Barack Obama. Despite that exponential growth, the House bill cuts a mere 2.5 percent the food stamp program. Amendment #151 would help reverse course.

Heritage Action supports Huelskamp Amendment #101 and will include it as a key vote on our legislative scorecard.

"YES" on Pitts Amendment #98

Amendment #98 offered by Rep. Joe Pitts (R-Pa.) reforms the Federal sugar program: 1) repeals unnecessary trade restrictions; 2) eliminates higher price support levels; 3) reforms domestic supply restrictions to provide more flexibility to USDA; and 4) provides flexibility to USDA in administering quotas. In 2006, the Department of Commerce found that for every job "saved" by the program, the sugar program kills three manufacturing jobs. Despite claims that it is "zero cost" to taxpayers, the current sugar program distorts prices for sugar products for consumers. It also inflates sugar prices by capping the amount that manufacturers and consumers in the U.S. can import from foreign producers.

Heritage Action supports Pitts Amendment #98 and will include it as a key vote on our legislative scorecard.

"YES" on Kind Amendment #47

Amendment #47 offered by Rep. Ron Kind (D-Wis.) limits premium subsidies to those producers with an adjusted gross income under $250,000 and limits per person premium subsidies to $50,000. It caps crop insurance providers' reimbursement of administrative and operating at $900 million and reduces their rate of return to 12 percent. This amendment introduces transparency into the crop insurance program and reduces the overall cost to taxpayers.

Heritage Action supports Kind Amendment #47 and will include it as a key vote on our legislative scorecard.

Related:

Heritage Action Scorecard
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