Congressman Smith released the following statement after voting against the farm bill due to Supplemental and Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) cuts:

“Although I was encouraged by the bipartisan work that went into finalizing the farm bill, I voted against this bill because the cuts it would make to SNAP would reduce essential nutrition support for 850,000 households across the country.  The farm bill would cut $8.6 billion from the program over the next 10 years, with a disproportionate amount of cuts to Washington State.
 
“While in the 9th District, I have visited with multiple nutrition assistance organizations and community leaders, and seen firsthand how thousands of our state’s children, veterans, seniors, disabled, and hard-working families rely on SNAP every day.  This program is as important now as it has ever been.  With our economy continuing to recover and many Americans still searching for employment, I could not support legislation that takes essential nutrition support away from people who desperately need it.”