WASHINGTON, D.C.(Press Release) – On Wednesday, the House Agriculture Committee passed their portion of House Republicans’ reconciliation package, which includes several of U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson’s (R-S.D.) priorities for rural America and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
The package identifies $296 billion in savings while making significant investments in Farm Bill programs that support American agriculture.
“The policies included in this package will benefit the fiscal health of our nation, as well as our producers,”said Johnson. “Provisions from my America Works Act are integral to ensuring federal benefit programs like SNAP aren’t just a handout but a hand up. I’m grateful for the Ag Committee’s hard work to turn our nation’s spending in the right direction.”
“Our section of the One Big, Beautiful Bill restores integrity to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, provides relief to farmers, invests in the future of rural America, and prevents the largest tax increase on American families,” said House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA). We ensure that SNAP works the way Congress intended it to, by reinforcing work, rooting out waste, and instituting long-overdue accountability incentives to control costs and end executive and state overreach. We preserve the program’s ability to serve the most vulnerable long into the future. At the same time, we’re strengthening the farm safety net and delivering critical support to the farmers, workers, and communities that keep America fed. These commonsense solutions help build a stronger, more resilient rural America. I’m grateful to my colleagues on the Committee for their hard work, and I look forward to passing this bill in the House and delivering results for families across the country.”
Johnson’s priorities included in the package:
- Johnson’sAmerica Works Act to enforce work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) receiving SNAP benefits.
- Reconciliation package is consistent with Johnson’s bill that raises the ABAWD age to 64 years old, lowers the dependent age to seven years old, and defines geographic areas to county or county equivalent.
- Removes SNAP eligibility for non-citizens.
- Tackling inflation head-on with increased support for farmers facing higher costs for fuel, feed, and fertilizer.
- Making long-term investments in conservation efforts that protect working lands without tying producers’ hands.
- Making sure beekeepers—vital to our food supply—are fairly compensated when they face unexpected losses.
- Doubling funding for trade programs so American-grown products reach more global markets.
- Boosting defenses against foreign animal diseases that threaten our livestock and poultry industries.
- TheSecure Rural Schools Act, which Johnson cosponsors, provides critical funding for rural schools on national service lands.
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