Home > FRAC 2007 Farm Bill Food Stamp Reauthorization Center > Action Alert - 7/27/07

RE: Key House Votes Near on Farm Bill with Nutrition Program Improvements

Today, July 27th, the House is nearing votes on final passage of the Farm, Nutrition and Biofuels Act (H.R. 2129) (the “Farm Bill”), which, among other things, invests $4 billion over five years to improve Food Stamp Program benefits and access and raise funding for The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP).

Immediate Action Needed

It is crucial to generate calls this morning not only to urge a “yes” vote on final passage, but also to urge House Members to vote "no" on any motion to recommit (which may have the effect of killing the bill). At risk are $4 billion in nutrition program investments. To reach your Member of Congress, call (toll-free) 1-800-965-4701.*

H.R. 2419 Nutrition Title Provisions and Financing

The nutrition title of H.R. 2419 would invest $4 billion over five years to improve food stamp allotment levels and eligibility (by increasing the standard and child care deductions, raising the minimum monthly benefit, and disregarding military combat pay), improve food stamp resource rules (by exempting retirement and education savings accounts from affecting food stamp eligibility and indexing for inflation the $2000 and $3000 asset limits), and raise mandatory spending for TEFAP commodity purchases. These investments represent real progress in addressing hunger in the U.S. A summary of the nutrition title provisions is posted at http://agriculture.house.gov/inside/Legislation/110/FB/Nutrition%20Title.doc

In order to pay for the H.R. 2419 nutrition title investments, the House Ways and Means Committee made a change in tax law affecting foreign companies based in countries with little or no income tax. Controversy erupted about whether the tax law change merely closes a loophole (as maintained by the majority) or raises taxes (as contended by the minority). Opposition to those offsets led to defections among Republicans who formerly supported H.R. 2419. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson’s (D-MN) strong statement in support of the $4 billion in nutrition title funding is posted at http://agriculture.house.gov/list/press/agriculture_dem/st_072507.html

Feedback and Assistance

For feedback and assistance, contact evollinger@frac.org and eteller@frac.org

* The toll-free number is provided courtesy of the American Friends Service Committee. AFSC welcomes groups to circulate and use the toll-free number in support of non-partisan budget goals and without linking the alert to a Web site soliciting donations or actions which may be used to support partisan causes.

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