U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján
CONGRESSIONAL News:
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico’s Third District released the following statement today after voting against final passage of the Farm Bill today, which included $20 billion in cuts to nutrition programs:
“I am deeply disappointed that at a difficult economic time when families are struggling to put food on the table, farmers and ranchers are struggling with drought conditions, and New Mexico’s dairies are in need of important tools for success, House Republicans brought a Farm Bill up for a vote that makes drastic cuts to vital food nutrition programs and fails to provide the help our farmers and ranchers need.”
“By gutting the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), this bill is too damaging to families across our state and the children who are at risk of going to bed hungry. With New Mexico leading the nation in childhood hunger and families still struggling in the wake of the recession, we should not be slashing aid that helps feed our children. Unfortunately, Tea Party Republicans poisoned this bill – not only through severe SNAP cuts, but also by stripping out vital assistance that would have helped New Mexico’s dairies that have been hurting.”
“As the legislative process moves forward, I will continue to advocate for a balanced approach that does not undermine programs that help hard-working New Mexicans feed their families and includes the needed reforms to help farmers and ranchers facing severe drought conditions.”
