Home > FRAC 2007 Farm Bill Food Stamp Reauthorization Center > Action Alert - 6/6/07

The House Agriculture Subcommittee is expected to mark up the nutrition title of the Farm Bill on June 14, with the full House Agriculture Committee and Senate Agriculture Committee following in June. We urge you to join us and anti-hunger advocates across the country in building on recent momentum for investments in Food Stamp Program improvements.

Recent developments include: 1) new nutrition title proposals in the House and Senate; 2) growing support for the McGovern/Emerson Bill (H.R. 2129); 3) extensive press coverage of “food stamp challenges”; 4) coverage of events around Hunger Awareness Day; and 5) announcements by Senate and House Agriculture Committee Chairmen that they intend to tap into the $20 billion (over five years) “reserve fund” in the FY 2008 budget to finance new spending for the various titles of the 2007 Farm Bill.

New Legislative Proposals
The McGovern/Emerson bill, H.R. 2129, currently with 88 cosponsors, would make $20 billion in new five-year investments in nutrition programs by improving benefit levels, expanding eligibility, and improving access. It provides families with greater access to an adequate diet by raising the food stamp benefit levels, which currently average a meager $1 per person per meal and only $10 a month for those at the minimum benefit level. The legislation addresses outdated resource tests that count modest savings against a person’s eligibility. H.R. 2129 also bolsters the emergency food assistance system and overall, offers the broadest relief introduced to date. (Click here for summary)

An influential new proposal to improve Food Stamp Program benefits and access is “The Food Stamp Fairness and Benefit Restoration Act of 2007,” (S. 1529), offered by Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Harkin (D-IA) and Sen. Lugar (R-IN). In introducing S. 1529 (click here for Press Release), Chairman Harkin explained, “This legislation gives help to the people at the lowest incomes in our society who need it most. Restoring this vital funding to the Food Stamp Program would go a long way towards preventing more low-income families from falling through the cracks in our society.”

Other recent “marker” bills that contain nutrition title investments and move the debate in a positive direction are: a “Latino marker bill” (H.R. 2401), introduced by Rep. Baca (D-CA) and other Congressional Hispanic Caucus Members; “Northeast marker” bills (H.R. 2144/S. 1424), introduced by Reps. DeLauro (D-CT) and Gilchrist (R-MD) and Sen. Schumer (D-NY); and the “Food and Agriculture Risk Management for the 21st Century Act” (S. 1422), introduced by Sen. Lugar. S. 591, introduced earlier by Sen. Chambliss (R-GA), would make modest improvements in Food Stamp Program resource limits.

Additional Senate Support for Food Stamps: Sen. Durbin (D-IL) is circulating a food stamp “Dear Colleague” letter that incorporates our nutrition message for the Farm Bill - strengthening the Food Stamp Program. Contact your Senators and urge them to sign this letter demonstrating support for Food Stamp Program improvements.

Message and Action Needed: Join FRAC and advocates nationwide In Anti-Hunger Call-in Days, June 6 – 15

• Step 1: Make three calls – one to your Representative and two to your Senators. Call 800-965-4298.* Ask the Capitol Switchboard operator to connect you to your Member of Congress’ office. (Click here to find your Representative or Senator.)
  
  
• Step 2: MESSAGE! Insist that the 2007 Farm Bill has a strong nutrition title that strengthens the Food Stamp Program and the emergency food system. Food stamp benefits average only $1 a person a meal and the minimum benefit has been stuck at $10 a month for decades. Food Stamps should be available to more needy people and should be more adequate for attaining a healthy diet. H.R. 2129 would address those priorities.



House — Urge Members to communicate to Agriculture Committee Chairman Peterson (D-MN) their support for improving the nation’s nutrition safety net in the Farm Bill by strengthening the Food Stamp and emergency feeding programs. Ask them to cosponsor and support the McGovern/Emerson “Feeding America’s Families Act” (H.R. 2129).


Senate — Urge your Senators to communicate that same Food Stamp support to Agriculture Committee Chairman Harkin (D-IA) and also urge them to sign Sen. Durbin’s letter advocating support for Food Stamp Program improvements.



• Step 3: Spread the Word! Forward this or your own alert to your members and allies. Click here for e-mailable postcards to Congress.