A bad bill is defeated, thanks to Rosa DeLauro Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives voted on the Farm Bill reauthorization. The bill would have slashed essential programs for low income families, including a $20.5 billion cut in SNAP benefits (formerly known as food stamps) over the next ten years. SNAP benefits are a critical work support for low-income families across our state, putting food on the table and helping make ends meet. The cuts would have entailed a steep reduction of benefits for the more than 152,000 Connecticut households that rely on this program; over 13,500 in New Haven alone.
It was a bad piece of legislation that greatly threatened to harm the most vulnerable. Thanks to the efforts and leadership of Representative Rosa DeLauro, however, it never came to pass. Representative DeLauro played a crucial role in convincing her colleagues to vote against the bill. Her leadership on this issue has been one of the hallmarks of her tenure in Congress. DeLauro works tirelessly to help families in need make ends meet and to create opportunity for them. Her compassion for and dedication to helping those who are struggling were again on display last week in Washington, D.C. She is an incredible advocate for the citizens of New Haven and Connecticut, and we are fortunate to have her as our representative.
Jim Horan
Executive Director
Connecticut Association for Human Services, Hartford
Sharon Langer
Interim Executive Director
Connecticut Voices for Children, New Haven