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Rival Gaza protest groups clash at UCLA; IL farmers on costly hold amid legislative foot-dragging; classes help NY psychologists understand disabled people's mental health; NH businesses, educators: anti-LGBTQ bills hurting kids, economy.

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Ukraine receives much-needed U.S. aid, though it's just getting started. Protesting college students are up in arms about pro-Israel stances. And, end-of-life care advocates stand up for minors' gender-affirming care in Montana.

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More rural working-age people are dying young compared to their urban counterparts, the internet was a lifesaver for rural students during the pandemic but the connection has been broken for many, and conservationists believe a new rule governing public lands will protect them for future generations.

Congress Could Take Aim at SNAP Benefits

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Tuesday, January 9, 2018   

DENVER – Congress is expected to begin work soon on the $140 billion farm bill, but there are concerns that some conservatives are targeting nutrition programs for cuts.

Food programs such as SNAP, WIC and school lunches are a big part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's budget, and advocates fear they could become a target.

James Weill is the president of the Food Research and Action Center.

"There seems to be a difference of opinion between House Speaker Ryan and Senate Majority Leader McConnell about whether they're going to do welfare reform," he notes. "Ryan wants to, and McConnell doesn't, which sets a tone and a path that would affect the farm bill."

Weill says the recently passed tax bill is projected to result in a $1.5 trillion deficit in the federal budget over the next decade. He says some of the same Republicans who voted for the tax bill are now looking to cut social programs to shrink the deficit they created.

Currently, one in 12 Coloradans utilize the food-stamp program.. And nearly two thirds of participants are children, elderly, or have disabilities.

Weill says SNAP and other food-assistance plans make up about 70 percent of the USDA budget. He says while preserving those programs is the primary goal, some improvements are also needed.

"Agriculture committees have reasonably broad, bipartisan support for leaving the SNAP program largely alone, and not fixing the real problems, like benefits aren't enough to get people through the month," he says.

He says it's critical for lawmakers to understand the value of SNAP and the working people who benefit from the program.

"SNAP reaches into every community in America in a fundamentally important way," explains Weill. "Not only is SNAP profoundly important to the economy and to the anti-hunger effort, but a lot of the stereotypes of who it is going to and how it affects communities are not quite right."

Weill says with several other major issues facing Congress, it could be spring before they take up the farm bill.


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