Tom Harkin: “Mr. President, in the bill there is an important provision that allows for $180 to be given to help the enlisted…”

“Mr. President, in the bill there is an important provision that allows for $180 to be given to help the enlisted personnel who are on food stamps. We have people in uniform today who are eligible for food stamps. There is a $180 special allowance for military personnel in the bill, if they are eligible for food stamps. All my amendment does is the following. I allows military personnel stationed overseas to receive the same $180 special allowance as those living in the United States. The bill only gives the allowance to people stationed here in the United States. It also streamlines the application process. Right now, if a soldier is eligible for food stamps, they have to go to the food stamp office and get a certification, come back to the military personnel office and then go back to the food stamp office. My amendment allows for a one-step process. With my amendment, all they have to do is go to the military to get certified. Secondly, my amendment allows service people living off base to have the same $180 special allowance eligibility as those living on base, in other words, it disregards the housing allowance when determining eligibility. Next, it allows eligible military families to receive the WIC Program if they are overseas.”