Latest news with #SenateAgricultureCommittee
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Senate referee appears open to revised GOP proposal to cut federal food assistance spending
A spokesperson for the Senate Agriculture Committee said Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough appears open to a revised Republican proposal to shift some costs for food assistance to states after rejecting the initial draft of it over the weekend. The Senate Republican plan would require states for the first time to pay a sizeable share of food benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) unless they reduce the error rate for delivering benefits to below 6 percent. Senate Agriculture Committee Chair John Boozman (R-Ark.) said earlier Tuesday that MacDonough had accepted the revised language, but a committee spokesperson clarified that she has been 'responsive to the revised language' but hasn't made a ruling. Republican staff reworked the proposal to give states more 'flexibility' and 'information' about implementing the program. He said the revised language would achieve roughly the same level of savings as the proposal the parliamentarian ruled against over the weekend. 'It's intact. It's very little change. Just gives the states more information to work with, but as far as affecting the program or how the program works, it's the same. Again, it just gives [states] a little bit more flexibility and a little bit more information,' Boozman told The Hill. 'It's all done and it's intact. The savings are almost identical. So we're pleased by the outcome,' he added. It's a welcome piece of news for Republicans who have watched the parliamentarian reject a variety of proposals in the bill for violating the Senate's Byrd Rule, which governs what legislation is eligible to pass the Senate with a simple-majority vote on the budget reconciliation fast track. MacDonough had dealt Republicans a setback by ruling that the section of the GOP megabill mandating that states cover a portion of SNAP benefits depending on their error rates in delivering assistance would violate the Byrd Rule. Boozman told The Hill on Monday that the parliamentarian was primarily concerned that the legislation did not provide enough time and flexibility for states to adapt to the proposed changes. 'They were concerned that [states] wouldn't have enough time with the data that they received in order to adjust for the payment errors. Our answer to that is to come up with a fix to provide them the data sooner,' he said. 'That was the parliamentarian's concern.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Senate referee greenlights GOP's updated SNAP proposal in ‘big, beautiful bill'
A Republican effort to require states to cover a share of food benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for the first time can now move forward after a recent decision from the Senate's parliamentarian. Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough ruled a revised proposal from the Senate complied with the chamber's Byrd Rule, days after she rejected the GOP's previous 'state cost-share' proposal. As part of a sweeping plan to advance President Trump's tax agenda and reduce some federal spending, Republicans sought to require states to cover some of the cost of SNAP benefits — which are currently completely funded by the federal government — if they have a payment error rate above 6 percent beginning in fiscal 2028. The proposal in the megabill would also allow states with rates below that level to continue paying zero percent. Under the updated proposal approved by the parliamentarian, Republicans say states would be allowed to 'choose either the Fiscal Year 2025 or Fiscal Year 2026 payment error rate to calculate their state match requirement that begins in Fiscal Year 2028.' 'For Fiscal Year 2029 and following, the state match will be calculated using the payment error rate from three fiscal years prior,' the lawmakers added in a statement from the GOP-led Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee. 'A state must contribute a set percentage of the cost of its SNAP benefits if its payment error rate exceeds six percent.' Republicans also noted the proposal will help incentivize states to get their payment error rates down. 'This paves the way for important reforms that improve efficiency and management of SNAP while encouraging responsible use of taxpayer dollars,' Senate Agriculture Committee Chair John Boozman (R-Ark.) said in a statement. 'In 2023 alone, over $10 billion was misspent when administering this program – underscoring the need for stronger accountability,' Boozman continued. 'Our commonsense approach encourages states to adopt better practices, reduce error rates, be better stewards of taxpayer dollars, and prioritize the resources for those who truly need it.' In discussing the revised plan earlier this week, the Arkansas senator argued the updated proposal 'just gives the states more information to work with.' 'But as far as affecting the program or how the program works, it's the same,' he told The Hill. 'Again, it just gives them a little bit more flexibility and a little bit more information.' 'The savings are almost identical,' Boozman added. However, Democrats have leveled sharp criticism against the effort, which some argue could lead to states cutting benefits on their own by shifting billions of dollars in costs to states. 'Congressional Republicans have chosen to cut food assistance for millions of Americans to give tax breaks to billionaires,' Sen. Amy Klobuchar (Minn.), the top Democrat on the Agriculture Committee, said in a statement Friday. 'Instead of working with Democrats to lower costs for Americans, Congressional Republicans are doubling-down on shifting costs to states that they simply cannot bear,' she added. 'We'll keep fighting these proposals that raise grocery costs and take food away from millions of people, including seniors, children, and veterans.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
2 days ago
- Business
- The Hill
Senate referee greenlights GOP's updated SNAP proposal in ‘big, beautiful bill'
A Republican effort that would require states to cover a share of food benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for the first time can now move forward after recent decision from the Senate's rules referee. Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough ruled a revised proposal from the Senate complied with the chamber's Byrd Rule, days after she rejected the GOP's previous 'state cost-share' proposal. As part of a sweeping plan to advance President Trump's tax agenda and reduce some federal spending, Republicans sought to require states to cover some of the cost of SNAP benefits — which are currently completely funded by the federal government — if they have a payment error rate above 6 percent beginning in fiscal 2028. The proposal in the megabill would also allow states with rates below that level to continue paying zero percent. Under the updated blueprint approved by the parliamentarian, Republicans say states would be allowed to 'choose either the Fiscal Year 2025 or Fiscal Year 2026 payment error rate to calculate their state match requirement that begins in Fiscal Year 2028.' 'For Fiscal Year 2029 and following, the state match will be calculated using the payment error rate from three fiscal years prior,' the lawmakers added in a statement from the GOP-led Senate Agriculture Committee. 'A state must contribute a set percentage of the cost of its SNAP benefits if its payment error rate exceeds six percent. Republicans also noted that the proposal will help incentivize states to get their payment error rates down. 'This paves the way for important reforms that improve efficiency and management of SNAP while encouraging responsible use of taxpayer dollars,' Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman (R-Ark.) said in a statement. 'In 2023 alone, over $10 billion was misspent when administering this program – underscoring the need for stronger accountability,' Boozman continued. 'Our commonsense approach encourages states to adopt better practices, reduce error rates, be better stewards of taxpayer dollars, and prioritize the resources for those who truly need it.' However, Democrats have leveled sharp criticism against the effort, which some argue could lead to states cutting benefits on their own by shifting billions of dollars in costs to states. 'Congressional Republicans have chosen to cut food assistance for millions of Americans to give tax breaks to billionaires,' Sen. Amy Klobuchar (Minn.), the top Democrat on the agriculture committee, said in a statement on Friday. 'Instead of working with Democrats to lower costs for Americans, Congressional Republicans are doubling-down on shifting costs to states that they simply cannot bear,' she added. 'We'll keep fighting these proposals that raise grocery costs and take food away from millions of people, including seniors, children, and veterans.'
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Business
- Newsweek
Warning Issued From 23 States Over SNAP Benefit Cuts
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. All 23 Democratic governors have penned a letter imploring Congress not to "gut" funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) nor shift financing responsibility to the states. Why It Matters Republicans on the Senate Agriculture Committee are working to pass major federal cost cuts to the program, which provides monthly benefits to for about 40 million low- and no-income Americans to help with the cost of groceries, as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. First revealed earlier this year, Republicans are planning to shift some of the responsibility for funding the food stamp program to states. Under currently rules, states pay for half of the administrative costs of running SNAP, while the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) pays the other half. The USDA also covers the entire cost of benefits. Numerous states have warned they are unable to afford the extra financial commitment, and could be forced to drop out of the program entirely, which could leave some of America's poorest without food aid. Newsweek contacted the Senate Agriculture Committee for comment via email outside of regular working hours on Thursday. What To Know The letter addressed to Senate and House minority and majority leaders argues that cost-sharing proposals outlined in the bill would "effectively gut this critical food assistance that helps families with children, older adults, and working people afford the rising cost of groceries and put food on the table." Signed by the 23 governors, it warns that some states may need to withdraw from the program entirely because they cannot afford it, "potentially cutting off millions of Americans from this vital assistance." Stock image/file photo: SNAP and EBT accepted here sign Stock image/file photo: SNAP and EBT accepted here sign GETTY The letter warns that Congress is putting states in an "impossible ultimatum," forcing them to either find new funding to cover federal SNAP cuts or reduce access to critical food assistance. They called the expectation that states could realistically backfill such cuts "unrealistic," emphasizing that failure to meet the full cost-share would leave states with few choices: cut SNAP enrollment or shut down their programs entirely. "Strained state budgets cannot backfill these cuts," it reads, "especially as Congress simultaneously proposes to slash Medicaid, disaster relief, and other federally-funded safety net programs." The following governors have signed the letter: Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs California Governor Gavin Newsom Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont Colorado Governor Jared Polis Delaware Governor Matt Meyer Hawaii Governor Josh Green Illinois Governor JB Pritzker Kansas Governor Laura Kelly Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear Maine Governor Janet Mills Maryland Governor Wes Moore Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer Minnesota Governor Tim Walz New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham New York Governor Kathy Hochul North Carolina Governor Josh Stein Oregon Governor Tina Kotek Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee Washington Governor Bob Ferguson Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers Revised Senate Plans Under revised Senate plans, states can decide whether to use their payment error rates from either fiscal year 2025 or 2026 to determine their cost-sharing obligations starting in fiscal year 2028. But beginning in fiscal year 2029, each state's share will be based on the average error rate from the previous three years. Under the proposal, states that keep their SNAP payment error rates under 6 percent won't have to contribute financially. For all others, the maximum cost a state could be required to cover is capped at 15 percent. What People Are Saying Colorado Governor Jared Polis: "Hundreds of thousands of Coloradans rely on SNAP to access food and we urge Congress not to make these drastic cuts. These cuts would hurt children and families, communities and our economies, while stretching state budgets even further." Darcy Milburn, director of Social Security and health care policy at the Arc of the United States, previously told Newsweek: "Shifting responsibility for funding SNAP onto states would upend state budgets. SNAP is an optional program for states, so state governments may decide to address this fiscal challenge by reducing SNAP benefits, restricting eligibility, or even opting out of SNAP entirely," What Happens Next After being approved by the House of Representatives in May, the SNAP portion of the bill is currently being considered by the Senate Agriculture Committee, with a view to passing the entire bill by Independence Day. Are you a SNAP recipient worried about cuts the program? Email
The Hill
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Parliamentarian accepts revised GOP proposal to cut federal food assistance spending
Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough has accepted a revised Republican proposal to shift some costs for food assistance to states after rejecting the initial draft of it over the weekend, Senate Agriculture Committee Chair John Boozman (R-Ark.) said. The Senate Republican plan would require states for the first time to pay a sizeable share of food benefits under Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) unless they reduce the error rate for delivering benefits to below six percent. Boozman told reporters Tuesday that Republican staff reworked the proposal to give states more 'flexibility' and 'information' about implementing the program. He said the revised language would achieve roughly the same level of savings as the proposal the parliamentarian ruled against over the weekend. 'It's intact. It's very little change. Just gives the states more information to work with but as far as affecting the program or how the program works, it's the same. Again, it just gives [states] a little bit more flexibility and a little bit more information,' Boozman told The Hill. 'It's all done and it's intact. The savings are almost identical. So we're pleased by the outcome,' he added. It's a welcome piece of news for Republicans who have watched the parliamentarian reject a variety of proposals in the bill for violating the Senate's Byrd Rule, which governs what legislation is eligible to pass the Senate with a simple-majority vote on the budget reconciliation fast track. MacDonough had dealt Republicans a setback by ruling that the section of the GOP megabill mandating that states cover a portion of SNAP benefits depending on their error rates in delivering assistance would violate the Byrd Rule. Boozman told The Hill Monday that the parliamentarian was primarily concerned that the legislation did not provide enough time and flexibility for states to adapt to the proposed changes. 'They were concerned that [states] wouldn't have enough time with the data that they received in order to adjust for the payment errors. Our answer to that is to come up with a fix to provides them the data sooner,' he said. 'That was the parliamentarian's concern.'
