House Republicans clashed with Democrats at a hearing Wednesday over a proposed pilot program that would restrict access to excessively sugary foods and drinks for food stamps recipients, sparring over matters of food science amid the nationwide obesity epidemic.

Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD), chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, grew exasperated with colleagues on the opposite side of the aisle who insisted that his proposed pilot program would be a cut in funding for families in need, calling their arguments straw-man attacks.