CBS12 News Team

Controversial Farm Bill threatens local food pantries, families who rely on them

FT. PIERCE, Fla. -- Congressional committees are set to debate a controversial farm bill which would cut food subsidies and food stamp funding by tens of billions of dollars over the next decade. Officials from local food banks are speaking out to raise awareness before they, it's too late. They predict these cuts could harm the nearly 1 in 7 Americans who rely on their help.

Mat Churchey/Treasure Coast Food Bank: The stuff that comes from the federal government is really good quality, healthy product that we depend on.

But all this food stuff and the quantity food banks dispense depends on the funding voted on in Washington. Namely the Farm Bill set to expire September 30.

CBS 12: This is your government food?

Mat Churchey/ Treasure Coast Food Bank: Yes, and that is the food that is affected directly. Those are baby lima beans and shelf sustainable food, canned food. And every once in a while we get a big shipment of chicken quarters or something like that. Or even produce every once in a while.

A controversial part of the newly proposed Farm Bill 2012 would cut funding to a program called SNAP, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or better known as food stamps. As well as to emergency food assistance programs.

Mat Churchey/Treasure Coast Food Bank: This program anchors what we do with food in the community.

The proposed cuts causing alarm among clients at the Treasure Coast Food Bank.

Olivia Young/Volunteer: Of course because there's a lot of people that don't really have, you know, that's not fortunate in others, and you know some people really need the help.

The Farm Bill will have a direct impact on food banks, pantries and the numbers they can feed. But the House and Senate are looking to find ways to balance a budget and it could well be in the billions funneled into food assistance. Right now, the question is not if, but how big the cuts will be.

These programs help to feed 1 in every 7 Americans. The Agricultural Committee votes on this bill on Wednesday.

The Farm Bill in Congress faces the most extreme cuts at $35 billion over the next 10 years. The Farm Bill in the Senate would only cut $23 billion over the next decade.

Treasure Coast Food Bank and Feeding South Florida of Palm Beach, Broward and Miami Dade counties are hosting a policy forum to educate voters on what the Farm Bill impacts will mean locally. The discussion will be held July 25th from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Pine School in Hobe Sound.

Tuesday, July 10 2012, 07:32 PM EDT

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