Funding shortfall could cut WIC enrollment by one fourth
State agencies would have to cut WIC enrollment by 28 percent, or nearly 2 million women and children, by next September if Congress fails to fully fund the program, said the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities on Tuesday. "WIC needs $1 billion" due to higher food costs and rising enrollment, said Sharon Parrott, the think tank's president.
SNAP error rate soars to highest in years
The error rate of SNAP over- and underpayments — 11.54 percent — "is unacceptable and threatens the integrity of the program," said the leaders of the Senate and House Agriculture committees, who oversee food stamps. The error rate in fiscal 2022 was the highest in years and 4 points higher than before the pandemic.
Key House Democrat says ‘no way’ to SNAP cuts
Congress will write the 2023 farm bill without harming SNAP, notwithstanding Republican suggestions to restrict food-stamp eligibility, said the senior Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee on Monday. "There is no way we are going to accept any cuts in this program," said Rep. David Scott of Georgia at a farm conference.
‘Substantial investments’ needed in public nutrition, says senator
Congress can reduce hunger during the pandemic by extending the 15 percent increase in SNAP benefits and providing an additional $3 billion for WIC, as suggested by President Biden, said Sen. Bob Casey to the Consumer Federation of America on Tuesday. "We have to stay on that path where we're focused on substantial investments" in public nutrition.
SNAP enrollment is lowest in a decade
Food stamp enrollment is forecast for 37.1 million people this fiscal year, the lowest figure since the early days of the Great Recession. The antihunger program could cost $69.2 billion this fiscal year, according to Senate appropriators, down 6 percent from fiscal 2019, which ended on Sept. 30, and far below the nearly $80 billion cost when SNAP participation peaked early this decade.
SNAP benefits “fall short,” an increase would improve food security, says think tank
The premiere U.S. anti-hunger program, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, fails to assure a healthy diet for millions of low-income Americans, said the think tank Center on Budget and Policy Priorities on Tuesday. Half of all SNAP households “are still food insecure, meaning they …
House panel forgoes big Trump cuts in food stamps, crop insurance
With the big budget battle in another arena, House appropriators proposed steady-as-you go funding for the USDA and FDA in the fiscal year that begins on Oct. 1. President Trump has proposed cutting food stamps by 25 percent and crop insurance by 36 percent.
Food stamps a target as House GOP moves toward budget plan
House Republicans are expected to caucus today to discuss a budget package that reportedly increases military spending while cutting domestic programs. The food stamp program is commonly mentioned as a target in government-wide cuts to domestic spending that could total $150 billion over 10 years.
Food-stamp enrollment is lowest in nearly four years
Enrollment in food stamps, the premiere U.S. antihunger program, at latest count was the lowest since July 2011, according to USDA data. Some 45.4 million people received food stamps in April, the most recent month for which figures are available.
House block grant for food stamps is a 34-percent cut
The House Republican plan to convert the food-stamp program into a block grant would cut funding by $125 billion, or 34 percent, by 2025. The House is expected to vote this week on the proposal, which is wrapped into the House budget resolution for fiscal 2016. Debate is scheduled to begin today, with amendments offered on Wednesday. The conversion wouldn't take effect until 2021.
Senate budget proposal targets food stamps indirectly
The fiscal 2016 budget resolution proposed by Senate Budget chairman Mike Enzi calls for large cuts in discretionary spending outside of the military, which could include food stamps, but does not specifically ask for cuts in the farm program. During committee debate, Democrat Debbie Stabenow said 400 farm, conservation, anti-hunger and rural-development groups were on record against any cuts beyond the $23 billion required by the 2014 farm law.
Food stamp list stabilizes at 46.5 million people
Food stamp enrollment totaled 46.5 million people, or nearly one in seven Americans, for three months in a row, say USDA data. That's down by 1.2 million recipients, or 2.5 percent, from a year ago.
Food stamp enrollment may be plateauing
Enrollment in the food stamp program rose by 2 pct in fiscal 2013, the slowest growth since fiscal 2007, says the Daily Yonder in reviewing a USDA report on public nutrition programs.