Jim McGovern

I find it a little bit curious that we seem to be singling out SNAP for review.

When I think of Alan Simpson and Pete Domenici, I don't necessarily think of bleeding hearts, but in their recommendations they recommend we don't touch this program.

And let me just say this about the waivers: Republican governors as well as Democratic governors did that, and they did it not because they were trying to cheat the system.

Two-thirds of SNAP recipients are not expected to work. They are children, they are senior citizens, and they are the disabled.

So I view this program as essential to making sure that people don't go hungry, and good nutrition is also essential for people to have a healthy life.

Let me assure you it is. I have been to public schools in my district where kids fear snow days because they won't be fed if they go home.

I hope that this is not going to be an exercise in another attack against poor people because I fear I have seen this movie before, and I didn't like it the first time.

We need to make sure that the funding is there.

Someone ought to go to jail.

The strongest possible signal should be sent for the Administration, that enough is enough.

It is important to draw a line in the sand so we don't start going down a road that would be detrimental to a lot of people in this country.

This idea of going back after the program would be a huge mistake.

While USDA has not fully evaluated the Safe Food Act, proposals such as H.R. 609 are part of a larger conversation on improving public health.

We cannot balance the budget on the backs of poor people.

No more cuts to SNAP, no more cuts to food and nutrition programs.

He said, 'I gave the order.' Castro said, 'I'm the one responsible.' And yet, this is who we are negotiating with.

It is important to understand that didn't happen by coincidence, it didn't happen by luck.

It shouldn't be any part of the problem.

VA is going to have to be the leaders on this from the Federal Government's point of view.

For way too long, veterans have been overrepresented among the homeless population.

And, the overwhelming majority of SNAP recipients who can work do.

Let me remind everyone here of some of the facts. There are 49 million people in this country--the richest country in the history of the world--who are hungry.

I sincerely hope that today's hearing isn't just another opportunity for some on this Committee to publicly bash SNAP and the people who rely on this program to eat.

I just worry about the fact that when we talk about these issues, sometimes we end of demonizing these people.

As a Member of Congress who does a lot of casework, a lot of people who fall on hard times end up coming to us because they can't quite figure out the system.