Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

Senate votes to make small cut to food stamps in farm bill

The Canadian PressMay 21, 2013 18:30

WASHINGTON - The Senate voted Tuesday to keep a $400 million annual cut — or roughly a half of 1 per cent — to the food stamp program as part of a major five-year farm bill. Food stamps now cost almost $80 billion annually and are used by 1 in 7 Americans. The House and Senate have differed sharply on how much the domestic food aid should be cut, with the House version of the farm bill proposing to cut five times more than the Senate bill and change eligibility rules for recipients.

Deep divide in Congress over domestic food aid in massive farm bill

The Canadian PressMay 16, 2013 16:45

WASHINGTON - The House and Senate Agriculture Committees laid the groundwork this week for reducing the size of the federal food stamp program, approving farm bills that would shrink food aid and alter the way people qualify for it. The two chambers are far apart on how much the $80 billion-a-year program should be cut, however, reflecting a deep ideological and at times emotional divide on the role of government in helping the poor.

House panel set to OK cut in food stamps as conservatives demand that the program be trimmed

The Canadian PressMay 15, 2013 19:30

WASHINGTON - A House committee rebuffed Democratic efforts Wednesday to keep the $80 billion-a-year food stamp program whole, as debate on the farm bill turned into a theological discourse on helping the poor. The House bill would cut about $2.5 billion a year — or a little more than 3 per cent — from the food stamp program, which is used by 1 in 7 Americans. The committee rejected an amendment by Democrats to strike the cuts 27-17, keeping them in the bill.

UPDATE 1-US Republicans seek farm subsidy cuts, mull food stamps to cash

Thomson ReutersMarch 12, 2013 13:01

By Charles Abbott WASHINGTON, March 12 (Reuters) - Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday proposed $31 billion in farm subsidy cuts and the conversion of food stamps into a cash benefit program, as a way to help balance the federal budget in 10 years.

UPDATE 1-Report questions U.S. food stamp program's effectiveness

Thomson ReutersJanuary 17, 2013 19:45

* USDA slow to adjust benefits to rising food costs * Government should consider access to food, preparation costs * Program under pressure for funding cuts By Lisa Lambert and Susan Heavey WASHINGTON, Jan 17 (Reuters) - A report by a panel of experts released on Thursday questioned whether the U.S. government's food stamp program adequately provides for healthy diets for the more than 47 million low-income people who rely on the benefit.

Report questions U.S. food stamp program's effectiveness

Thomson ReutersJanuary 17, 2013 16:30

* USDA ignores some factors in determining benefits -report * Should consider access to food, preparation costs * Regional food price differences also an issue By Lisa Lambert and Susan Heavey WASHINGTON, Jan 17 (Reuters) - A report by a panel of experts released on Thursday questioned whether the U.S. government's food stamp program adequately provides for healthy diets for the more than 47 million low-income people who rely on the benefit.