House Farm Bill fails to support programs vital to our nation’s food and nutrition security

The Center for Science in the Public Interest opposes the Farm Bill released today by the House Agriculture Committee. The bill fails to support programs vital to our nation’s food and nutrition security. While families are struggling to afford a healthy diet, states are staring down Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding crises, and family farms are struggling, this bill does not meet the moment. CSPI urges all members of the House Agriculture Committee to vote “no” on the bill. 

First and foremost, the bill does nothing to address the impending SNAP funding crisis stemming from the cost-shift to states included in last year’s H.R. 1. As a result, some states will be forced to make difficult choices between raising taxes or restricting critical programs, including SNAP. Nor does the bill reverse the restrictive SNAP eligibility rules also passed through H.R. 1. 

The bill misses an opportunity to restore the Household Food Security Survey Module, the backbone of data on hunger in the US for nearly 30 years. The Trump administration terminated collecting this data in September 2025.  

The bill does not increase funding for the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP), thus failing to increase families’ purchasing power for fruits and vegetables. Because GusNIP funds directly support local fruit and vegetable farmers, the bill also falls short on supporting those producers. 

Further, the bill includes dangerous language previously introduced in the 2024 House Farm Bill that would undermine the scientific integrity of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, risking harm to public health and the exacerbation of health inequities. 

The farm bill is more than just an agriculture bill; it's a vital piece of legislation impacting the health of millions of people in this country.

Congress must ensure that the next farm bill restores federal funding and eligibility for SNAP, increases SNAP purchasing power for nutritious foods, bolsters food access during emergencies, invests in food and nutrition security research, and fosters a more equitable and sustainable food system for all. We need a farm bill that guarantees access to healthy food for everyone, and this bill is not it.