7 Ways the House Farm Bill Hurts the Middle Class

In a brief by the Center for American Progress outlines the ways in which the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act, also known as the Farm Bill, would negatively impact low and middle-class populations. As a result of the $16 billion proposed cuts to nutrition aid over the next 10 years:

• Approximately 19,000 jobs would be cut in 2014 alone.
• Approximately 2 million SNAP participants would be unable to access food assistance.
• Approximately 1 billion meals would be eliminated for struggling families in the first year of nutrition cuts alone.
• Approximately 280,000 children would be cut off from access to free school lunch.
• Categorical eligibility that gives states the flexibility to waive asset tests when families are applying to SNAP would be eliminated, penalizing families for accruing minimal savings.
• Approximately $90 a month would be cut from 500,000 households that participate in the heat and eat program, which helps families avoid choosing between paying for food or utility bills.

Click here to read the full brief.