Kevin Roberts: “I think I owe an apology to many of my Republican colleagues, and I hope I can get their attention. We have talked a lot…”

“I think I owe an apology to many of my Republican colleagues, and I hope I can get their attention. We have talked a lot about the need for a farm bill. We have talked about how we are in a rough patch in agriculture and how it affects every part of the country--all regions, all crops--and that we have crafted a farm bill in a bipartisan way with most of the titles. I have not talked enough to stress what we have done with regard to the SNAP program, in terms of reform and efficiencies, and solving that bonus program that was full of errors, prompting the IG to fine several States. Bear with me. I want to go over some of this progress that I think my colleagues will be interested in. I thank my colleague for his amendment, which would modify the work requirements under SNAP, as has been indicated, and require a photo ID with the use of a SNAP EBT card. I understand the intent to work toward self-sufficiency among SNAP participants. By the way, the best thing we have done is we have seen the economy improve and have seen to it that people have jobs and can get jobs and actually get off of food stamps. While I understand the intent is to promote work by broadening the application of the requirements, our bill would focus more on employment and training in the work requirements.…”