The House and Senate have reached agreement on final language for the 2014 Farm Bill (the Agricultural Act of 2014). The bill was approved by the House on Wednesday, January 29 by a vote of 251-166. The final bill language includes a 1 percent cut of approximately $800 million to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps.&nbsp

The final bill also includes language extending the eligibility for USDA rural housing programs of places where population is growing. Communities that were eligible based on 1990, 2000, or 2010 decennial census data will continue to be “grandfathered in” – that is, they will remain eligible areas until receipt of the 2020 census data or until their populations reach 35,000. In addition, about two dozen places that have been designated eligible under some provision of law will also remain eligible until the 2020 census or their populations reach 35,000.

Background on this issue is available on HAC’s website here.

For more information contact HAC’s Mike Feinberg, michael@ruralhome.org.

Updated: January 29, 2014