As anticipated, the House version of the much-delayed 2023 Farm Bill reflected the political orientation of the majority members of the Agriculture Committee. The proposal included a $27 billion reduction in SNAP benefits over a ten-year period. A portion of the savings would be used to restore eligibility to recipients deprived of benefits following felony convictions.
Savings in SNAP benefits would be applied to crop subsidies and crop insurance through a 10 to 20 percent increase in the reference prices for corn, soybeans, wheat, rice and cotton. The USDA would be restricted in expenditures through the Commodity Credit Corporation. Under the current Administration, the CCC has served as a bottomless piggy bank. The Agriculture Committee has attempted to produce a cost-neutral bill by balancing savings and expenditures. The House version of the bill also will require that dietary specifications should be cost-neutral with respect to SNAP.
Trade promotion programs including the MAP and the FMDP will receive additional funding. This is considered necessary given the anticipated decline in exports to the Peoples Republic of China that will follow imposition of higher tariffs.
The changes proposed in the House version will be vigorously opposed by Democratic members in both Chambers. The Senate version will have fewer cuts in SNAP benefits and accordingly less support for farmers. After votes in the respective chambers, the difficult task of reconciliation will be required to produce a bill. Failure to reach a consensus acceptable to both Chambers and the White House will move the Farm Bill forward to the 119th Congress expected to be different in composition from the current House and Senate.