U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR), ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, issued the following statement after the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) yesterday released the baseline for the 2023 farm bill.
“The baseline presents a challenge. It shows that the Biden administration’s improper sloppy reevaluation of the Thrifty Food Plan will continue to dramatically increase SNAP spending during the span of the next farm bill and drives the cost of the legislation to record heights.
“The total for all non-nutrition-related programs is approximately $225 billion. The 2021, 2026, and 2031 updates to the Thrifty Food plan alone, will cost more than all the spending outside the nutrition title. This is unsustainable and must be thoroughly debated as Congress considers the next farm bill.
“We are looking at the most expensive farm bill ever, and the administration’s lack of good judgement and poor decision-making will make this farm bill a much heavier lift for Congress.”
The Thrifty Food Plan (TFP) is an essential service for food security in the United States, being used as the basis for Food Stamp Program benefits. Developed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the TFP lays out dietary goals which are cost-conscious but still provide adequate nutrition. In determining what meets a necessary cost balance, the TFP relies on data from the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which is updated monthly. By considering current prices and allotting those to various categories of food, it creates a balanced diet for those who depend on it to meet their nutritional needs. All in all, the Thrifty Food Plan continues to be an important resource for ensuring Americans of all ages have access to nutritious and affordable meals throughout their lives.
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