WASHINGTON, May 10 (UPI) —
A proposed farm bill introduced Friday by the chairman of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee would cut costs by tightening eligibility for food stamps.
Rep. Frank Lucas, R-Okla., the committee chair, said the bill would eliminate $39.7 billion in spending in the next 10 years, The Hill reported. About half would come from savings in food stamps, $13.8 billion from farm programs and $6.9 billion from environmental programs.
It cuts food stamps by much more than the bill in the Democratic-majority Senate. But it may also find opposition from some House Republicans who want food stamp recipients to work for their aid.
Congressional aides said farm programs are getting a bigger cut in percentage terms than the much larger food stamp program. The bill would eliminate direct payments to farmers and some other types of assistance.
Like the Senate bill, the House one does not include a plan by the Obama administration to provide food aid overseas by buying locally. By law, food donated to other countries is now purchased from U.S. farmers.
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