On the recordJuly 20, 2000
the Food Stamp Program is designed to help indigent families feed their children. This is a noble goal. Unfortunately, widespread abuses in the food stamp program cost American taxpayers an estimated $1.4 billion in 1998 due to improper payments. That is money denied to thousands of poor American children throughout the Nation. In fact, food stamp reforms such as the electronic benefits system, the EBT, which has replaced food stamps in 29 States, have actually generated more welfare fraud. In one instance, two people in Beaumont, Texas, were convicted of trafficking in EBT food stamp benefits in exchange for crack cocaine. And in another, the owner of a meat and seafood market redeemed more than 331,000 in EBT food stamp benefits, even though virtually no food was purchased. We cannot let this continue. For the sake of our children and for the sake of the taxpayer, we must do a better job of eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse.
Source
govinfo.gov
