Robert Smith: “I rise in support of H.R. 1000, a bill that requires States to establish a system to verify that individuals detained in…”

“I rise in support of H.R. 1000, a bill that requires States to establish a system to verify that individuals detained in Federal, State, or county penal facilities are not counted as household members for the purposes of determining eligibility of the level of benefits in the Food Stamp Program. On March 10, 1997, the General Accounting Office released a report entitled, ``Food Stamps: Substantial Overpayments Result From Prisoners Counted as Household Members.'' As a result, the General Accounting Office estimates that $3.5 million in food stamp benefit overpayments were made in the year 1995. The Congressional Budget Office has analyzed H.R. 1000 and has concluded requiring a verification system will reduce food stamp benefit overpayments and save an estimated $6 million by fiscal year 2003. Although States and the Federal Government will incur a slight cost to establish the verification system in fiscal year 1998, that cost will be more than offset in subsequent years. Based on the findings and conclusions of the General Accounting Office, I believe that the verification system requirement of H.R. 1000 is a cost effective method of preventing prisoners from being counted as members of food stamp households with a minimum burden or inconvenience on food stamp recipients and States. Additionally, requiring this verification will identify and reduce program fraud and increase the collection of benefit overpayments. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1000.”