Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I rise in support of this amendment because when Congress proposes to cut the Food Stamp Program, it is not nameless, faceless people looking for a handout who suffer. It is children. It is veterans. It is Active-Duty servicemembers. It is hard- working adults. We have to stand by them in the way they have stood by us. The reality of this amendment is that half of the recipients of food stamps are children, 8 percent are seniors, and 1.4 million veteran households receive food stamps. Some of my colleagues believe this is some loophole we are closing, but the fact is these programs were designed for efficiency as part of welfare reform. When we put this LIHEAP program in place--the ``heat and eat'' program--it was to say families living in cold weather States that have high heating bills need extra money to put food on the table. This particular provision is for people in rental apartments who do not have a heating bill but are also having their heat included in their rent. These Governors in ``heat and eat'' States have said we want to make sure our recipients of food stamps are eligible for this benefit because they need it. Children, seniors, veterans, Active-Duty servicemembers deserve to have food on their table. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Kansas.”