Senate Democrats Want SNAP Addressed In Farm Bill

Senate Ag Committee Democrats insist that they must have a delay in state SNAP cost sharing left out of Chairman John Boozman’s Farm Bill draft before they can support the proposal. Top Senate Ag Democrat Amy Klobuchar said the Boozman Farm Bill draft must fix a SNAP state cost sharing delay which was given to just some states in last year’s tax bill.

"It is such an unfair situation when high error rate states, 21 to 1, get the benefit of this over low error rate states” Klobuchar noted.

“But is this a deal-breaker if you don’t get concessions?” a reporter asked her.

"We need to have changes on SNAP,” Klobuchar answered.

Klobuchar said even red state governors want a two-year delay so all states have time to adjust their budgets. Ag Chair John Boozman admits, this has created some problems, and they are looking at the problems to see "if we can solve them.” Meanwhile, USDA is scheduled to release SNAP data at the end of the month.

But Boozman says both sides are working in good faith as farmers face the biggest income drop in history.

“Congress has been really supportive of taking care of our farmers. They realize the difficult situation that they’re in, so, because of that, I think everybody is talking in good faith and trying to get this accomplished.”

SNAP reform fights have stalled a new farm bill since 2023, but the April House-passage provided some momentum in the Senate, where election politics and numerous other fights now crowd a waning legislative calendar.

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