House Passes Farm Bill without the Nutrition Title

On July 11, 2013, the United States House of Representatives passed a scaled-back version of the farm bill, removing the Nutrition title, which includes the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provisions.  This bill passed in the House by a slim margin of 216-208, with twelve Republicans and all House Democrats voting against the measure.  The House bill would also remove the current law, under which most farm programs revert to 1940’s levels if a farm bill is not in place.

The House failed to pass a five-year, $500 billion farm bill last month, which would have implemented cuts to SNAP.  The Senate passed their version of the farm bill in June.  The House and Senate must now hash out a compromise farm bill before the end of September 30, 2013, or the reversion to permanent law will go into effect.

For more information, please see the text of the House Bill and the Senate Bill.

Written By Gaby Gilbeau – Research Assistant

The Agricultural Law Resource and Reference Center

July 12, 2013