Final Farm Bill Protects SNAP, Supports Montana Communities

Gayle Carlson, CEO, Montana Food Bank Network:

“With overwhelming support, both the House and Senate passed a 2018 Farm Bill that protects and strengthens the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), our nation’s most effective anti-hunger program. The bill ensures that SNAP will continue to help feed children and their parents, seniors, people with disabilities, working people with low pay and inconsistent hours, and anyone else who falls on hard times. SNAP is and will remain a lifeline for people in our state, helping nearly 60,000 Montana households afford groceries each month. As we enter the holiday season, this is something we can all celebrate.

Additionally, the final bill includes strong funding for TEFAP, the Emergency Food Assistance Program, which provides food to Montana’s food pantries and meal programs, while supporting our nation’s producers. For many of Montana’s rural food pantries, TEFAP product can make up nearly half of the food on their shelves, helping to ensure that Montana families have access to quality, nutritious foods.

This agreement reflects the hard work of anti-hunger advocates and community groups who lifted their voices to educate lawmakers about the importance of SNAP and TEFAP for the health and well-being of people in our state. We commend House and Senate negotiators for working together, across party lines, to continue the bipartisan tradition of protecting food assistance for Montanans and all Americans. We thank Montana’s delegation, Senators Daines and Tester and Congressman Gianforte, for supporting this final bill.”

The Farm Bill now moves to President Trump, who is expected to sign the bill next week.