Abraham pushes food stamp work requirements in Farm Bill

Louisiana Congressman Ralph Abraham is pushing his colleagues on the Farm Bill Conference Committee to include work requirements for food stamp recipients, the last major sticking point on passage.

"We're simply asking these adults to meet the taxpayer halfway," said Abraham, R-Alto, the only member of the state's delegation on the panel negotiating the final version of the Farm Bill.

The conference committee includes members of the Senate and House charged with crafting a compromise version of the separate Farm Bills passed in each chamber. The Farm Bill sets agriculture policy for five years.

Senators are resisting the work requirements related to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program commonly known as food stamps.

"We're very close on every issue except except SNAP reform," said Abraham, who emphasized the work requirements and other priorities while addressing the committee in a public hearing this week.

"I believe we're getting closer on the work requirements," Abraham said of his negotiations with senators. "My sense of the mood during the meeting was that senators actively listening and hopefully moving toward a more House-like position."

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