Last week the U.S. House passed a slimmed-down version of the farm bill after stripping out the popular food-stamp program used by 48 million Americans.

Is that a good thing or a bad thing?

Well, it depends on who you ask.

Congressman Mike Rogers, whose 3rd District includes Cherokee County, said “The House’s passage of this Farm Bill is an important step towards helping support our Farmers, and ensuring America’s food is grown in America.”

Rogers serves as Chairman of the Strategic Forces subcommittee on the Armed Services Committee and is a senior member of the Homeland Security and Agriculture committees.

Meanwhile, Alabama Congresswoman Terri Sewell, who represents the 7th District which includes Tuscaloosa and Birmingham, is not a fan of the bill.

She said “I voted against passage of the Republicans version of the Farm Bill that stripped out the entire Nutrition Assistance program that is traditionally provided for in the Farm Bill including the essential Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program. The SNAP program is essential for so many families and children across my district and this nation. This version of the Farm Bill is a shameful neglect of our nation’s most vulnerable citizens.”

The bill narrowly passed on a 216-208 vote, largely along party lines.