Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Senators and witnesses warn USDA program cancellations and SNAP cuts could strain schools and local farms
Summary
Multiple senators used the hearing to raise administration cuts to USDA local‑food, farm‑to‑school and emergency food programs and proposed SNAP changes, saying those actions would undermine school meal access and local markets. USDA nutrition staff said they could not answer program cancellation questions at the hearing and would follow up.
Senators at a Senate Agriculture Committee hearing on the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act (S.222) also spent substantial time questioning witnesses about recent USDA changes to local food and anti‑hunger grants and the possible effects of proposed SNAP cuts.
Several members, including Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Sen. Ben Ray Luján, said USDA had canceled or suspended programs that supported local purchasing and emergency food providers. Klobuchar told the panel that "USDA's canceling the local foods purchase assistance are contrary to that advice" to promote fruits and vegetables, and said program cancellations would "exacerbate food insecurity." Senator Luján said USDA notified applicants on March 24 that the Patrick Leahy Farm to School grant…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
