Eva M. Clayton: “we need to block this block grant proposal. This welfare reauthorization bill that the House leadership has finally…”

“we need to block this block grant proposal. This welfare reauthorization bill that the House leadership has finally brought to the floor still contains a proposal to allow five States to elect a food stamp block grant in lieu of the regular program. And in addition, it allows the food stamp program the opportunity or the provision of a super waiver. This is a bad idea on procedure; it is flawed policy and should be defeated. I offered an amendment to remove from the bill these two provisions, the five-state block grant provision and the super waiver provision. The Committee on Rules denied that amendment. This rule, therefore, needs to be defeated on process. This block grant proposal ought to be blocked for a number of valid policy reasons: first of all, this proposal undermines the ability of the food stamp program to respond to human needs during economic downturns. The States will face pressure to transfer food assistance spending to employment and training. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that between 2002 and 2007, expenditures for food stamp benefits, administrative costs and employment and training programs will increase by 13 percent, from $21 billion to $24 billion. Indeed, if this should occur, where would this money come from? Fixed block granting of food stamps would not allow for those expenditures. Finally, the restoration of legal immigrants, unlikely under food stamp block grants.…”