Gillibrand food stamp amendment to farm bill defeated

An amendment removing cuts to food stamp funding was defeated Tuesday.

The amendment, sponsored by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), would have removed an amendment in the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012 (S. 3240) which cuts $4.5 billion from the federal food stamp program. The amendment was voted down, 33 to 66.

"This amendment does not extend or expand the food stamp program. It provides the exact same programs that families receive today," Gillibrand said ahead of the vote.

Gillibrand's is a number of food stamp amendments the Senate is considering for the farm bill. The other amendments, sponsored by Republicans, add limits to the food stamp program.

Just before the vote on Gillibrand's amendment, the Senate approved an amendment by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) calling on studies of food safety recalls.

The Senate also voted down an amendment by Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) that eliminated a cost share assistance program for organic food.

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