Larson Opposes Republican Agriculture Funding Bill That Raises Costs for Farmers and Families, and Advances Anti-LGBTQ Agenda

Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) voted against House Republicans' partisan agriculture funding bill that raises costs for farmers, slashes WIC nutrition assistance for women and children, and includes a controversial "license to discriminate" against LGBTQ+ Americans.

"While I hear firsthand from farmers in my district who are being crushed by rising costs, Republicans are pushing through a funding bill to slash support for local growers, raise prices even further, and advance a divisive culture war agenda," said Larson. "To add insult to injury, this bill not only continues the historic cuts to SNAP nutrition benefits Republicans passed last year-they are now taking aim at WIC, leaving women and children without access to fresh fruits and vegetables. That's flat-out cruel. We should be working to support our nation's hardworking farmers and expand access to locally grown nutritious food. I oppose these attacks on American families and growers and will keep fighting to lower costs, strengthen our nation's agricultural economy, and ensure no American goes hungry."

Under this funding bill, Connecticut would see the following impacts to grants and loans that support rural communities:

• $481,000 cut to Rural Water and Waste Disposal Grant funding - a 44% cut

• $41,000 cut to Rural Business Development Grant funding - a 28% cut

• $1,844,000 cut to Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Loan funding - a 50% cut

Their bill also cuts staffing at Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices, slashes funding for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) by $200 million, and includes a "license to discriminate" provision that would effectively allow organizations receiving federal funding to deny benefits and services to LGBTQ+ Americans. Larson offered an amendment with Rep. Angie Craig (MN-02) to remove this poison pill - which was rejected by Republicans on the House Rules Committee.

View a fact sheet on the agriculture appropriations bill HERE.