Mike Levin: “today I am proud to be an original cosponsor of the Senior Nutrition Act. This legislation which is cosponsored by my…”

“today I am proud to be an original cosponsor of the Senior Nutrition Act. This legislation which is cosponsored by my friend and colleague from my home state of Michigan, Senator Stabenow as well as my good friend Senator Domenici seeks to address in inequity in the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, CSFP, that I have long sought to address. CSFP is an important U.S. Department of Agriculture commodity food program that serves nearly four hundred thousand individuals every month, many of whom live in my home state of Michigan. The vast majority of these individuals are senior citizens. In fact, CSFP is the primary senior commodity program of the USDA. The average senior citizen pays $1000 dollars per year to purchase prescription drugs, and many senior citizens living on fixed incomes, are forced to choose between prescription drugs and food. Given the dire choices facing many seniors, reforming the Commodity Supplemental Food Program so that it can serve more seniors is a matter of great importance. This legislation seeks to increase the ability of seniors to get the food that they need by granting categorical eligibility for seniors if they can participate in the Food Stamp Program.”