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House lawmakers consider nutrition title updates

A U.S. Representative from Minnesota says lawmakers are considering ways to continue to improve the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in the next farm bill.

Brad Finstad is the chairman of the House Ag Subcommittee on Nutrition.

“We’re just trying to make sure we take a closer look at things like eligibility, program integrity and are we getting the most bang for the buck? Are we targeting dollars to the most vulnerable people? We’re continuing to ask those tough questions.”

But he says nothing is final yet.

Stricter work requirements for SNAP were included in the debt ceiling agreement and not all lawmakers were supportive of the change. Responding to House Ag Committee Ranking Member David Scott’s comments that additional changes to food assistance won’t get bipartisan support, Finstad says…

“I hear their concerns, but it’s trying to figure out where we can work together instead of focusing on the things that could make us run away from each other.”

Finstad tells Brownfield he met with the staff of the majority whip and other lawmakers last week in preparation for putting the farm bill together and the deadline to submit farm bill priorities is Friday.