WASHINGTON — Marcia L. Fudge of Ohio, chair of the House Agriculture Nutrition, Oversight and Department of Operations Subcommittee, in a letter urged US Dept. of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to extend the comment period on USDA’s proposal to further restrict eligibility of able-bodied adults without dependents to receive benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Fudge said extra time was needed since a similar provision to the proposed rule was overwhelmingly rejected after lengthy debate as part of the 2018 farm bill negotiating process.

“This language was vetted in detail for five full months by members of the 2018 Farm Bill Conference Committee before begin struck from the final bill,” Fudge said in the letter. “As you know, the House and Senate ultimately passed a farm bill conference report by historic margins, and the president signed the bill without delay.”

Fudge in the letter reminded Perdue that he promised the USDA would do its best to implement the farm bill as Congress intended.

“This proposed rule does just the opposite,” she said.