Jimmy Panetta: “Today I honor the anniversary of the Food Stamp Act of 1977. Tomorrow, the program we know as SNAP--the Supplemental…”

“Today I honor the anniversary of the Food Stamp Act of 1977. Tomorrow, the program we know as SNAP--the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program--turns 40. We also know that before the implementation of SNAP, families couldn't afford healthy meals and kids were going to school on empty stomachs. Today, thanks to this program, over 18,000 families in my district on the central coast of California count on SNAP benefits to put food on their tables at home and help their children feed their minds at their schools. In my district, the number one industry is agriculture. We ship our many fresh fruits and vegetables all over the country and to even other parts of the world. As a representative of this area, it is my goal and it is my responsibility to make sure that the families in my district have access to the same nutritious produce that is grown in our backyard. As a member of the House Agriculture Committee, under the leadership of Chairman Conaway, I look forward to working on the 2018 farm bill with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle so that we can support strong investments in SNAP. By doing that, we will support stronger families and a stronger future. ____________________”