Eva M. Clayton: “I have been a tireless advocate along with many of my colleagues in fighting hunger in the United States. The bill…”

“I have been a tireless advocate along with many of my colleagues in fighting hunger in the United States. The bill before us today is aimed at helping to ensure that the funds allocated by the Federal Government for the food stamp program actually go to feed those who are hungry. In fiscal year 1995, USDA issued over $22 billion in benefits. Some 26 million Americans were helped by these funds. Congress passed legislation last year to cut the food stamp program by $23 million through the year 2002. So the total appropriation for fiscal year 1997 is $23.3 billion, $1 billion less than they were in fiscal year 1996, which was $24.3 billion. This bill, H.R. 1000, is designed to ensure that we concentrate those declining resources to make sure that those who are in actual need get that help. Although the Food Stamp Act automatically disqualifies people who were institutionalized from inclusion in participating households because they receive meals during their sentences, oftentimes the food stamp administrative agency is not notified that a member of a household has been incarcerated. A GAO audit recently published a report which found out of four States studied for calendar 1995, California, Florida, New York, and Texas, 12,138 inmates were included in household food stamp benefits, resulting in an estimated $3.5 million that was not directed to needy families.”