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

RE: House Passes Farm Bill with Key Nutrition Program Improvements

On July 27th, by a vote of 231 to 191, the House approved the Farm, Nutrition and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (H.R. 2419) (the "Farm Bill"), which, among other provisions, invests $4 billion over five years to improve Food Stamp Program benefits and access and raise funding for The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP).

FRAC supported passage of H.R. 2419 as a real step forward in addressing domestic hunger and will work to strengthen the nutrition provisions as the legislation moves through the Senate and conference committee.

The progress on the nutrition title made to date is in large part due to our joint efforts these past months. We urge you to continue to let lawmakers know how important investments in the nutrition title are to helping vulnerable people in your communities as we seek to build on this progress.

H.R. 2419 Nutrition Title Provisions

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.

Wrap Up on House Vote

On July 27th, the House passed H.R. 2419 on a roll call vote of 231 to 191. Other key votes included 1) approval of a Rule that limited debate and amendments (on a roll call vote of 222 to 202); 2) defeat of the Kind/Flake substitute (on roll call vote of 309 to 117); and 3) defeat of a motion to recommit (on a roll call vote of 223 to 198).

Outlook

The August recess will be a crucial period for anti-hunger advocates to educate Senators about the importance of Farm Bill nutrition title investments. No Senate Agriculture Committee mark up has yet been set, but Committee and full Senate action is due before the October 1st date for reauthorizing the Farm Bill. A House/Senate conference committee would negotiate any differences between H.R. 2419 and a Senate-passed bill.

Action Needed

House--Thank House Members who voted for H.R. 2419.

Senators--1) Build on the momentum of House passage of H.R. 2419 and urge Senators to support the strongest possible nutrition title of the Farm Bill. 2) Educate Senators about hunger over the August recess by inviting Senators to visit nutrition program and emergency feeding sites, and by speaking up on behalf of hungry people at town hall meetings and other events that Senators host or attend. 3) Submit op-eds about the importance of a strong nutrition title of the Farm Bill.

Talking Points--35 million people in the United States live in households that face a constant struggle against hunger. Hunger is a serious problem in our state/community. Food stamp benefits average only $1 per person per meal; the minimum monthly benefit — most frequently applied to seniors — has been stuck at a mere $10 for 30 years. Our nation can do better.

Feedback and Assistance on Recess Activity Strategies

For feedback and assistance on August recess Farm Bill strategies, contact evollinger@frac.org and eteller@frac.org

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