A.G. Gancarski
U.S. Rep. Al Lawson takes pride in his place on the Agriculture Committee, and has noted in in-district town halls the importance of that placement for North Florida issues.
On Wednesday, Lawson followed up a hearing with Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue with a letter denoting the concerns he’s observed in his North Florida district.
One issue of importance: SNAP benefits, which one in four of his constituents have used in the last year.
With cuts proposed by the Donald Trump White House, Lawson posed the following questions to Perdue:
“Could you describe the impact that cuts to SNAP in the Farm Bill would have on beneficiaries? Also, please elaborate on how you plan to respond to food banks such as the Second Harvest of the Big Bend and Feeding Northeast Florida, which rely on the Emergency Food Assistance Program, when they have an increased demand if SNAP benefits are cut?”
On the chopping block potentially: the Healthy Food Financing Initiative, which augments the problem of food deserts.
Lawson raised concerns: “In North Florida, access to food is a real concern. Food deserts often leave vulnerable families shopping in convenience stores or resorting to fast food options. For instance, Winn Dixie is set to close stores in Jacksonville and Tallahassee, in neighborhoods that already struggle with easily accessing healthy foods.”
There apparently is “little money” for this program; Lawson wants to know how the issue of food deserts will be resolved by the Trump Administration.
Lawson also raised concerns about dumping of farm products from Mexico in the region, and wanted specifics on how peanut farmers will be protected by the Trump Administration.
