4082068 Resolution 19-690, "Sense of the Council on Support for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Resolution of 2012"

A RESOLUTION

 

19-690 

 

IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

 

November 15, 2012

 

 

 

To declare the sense of the Council in support of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, and its critical impact on low-income residents of the District.

 

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this resolution may be cited as the “Sense of the Council on Support for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Resolution of 2012”.

 

            Sec. 2.  The Council finds that:

                        (1)  The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives are currently considering making drastic cuts and changes to the structure of benefits provided by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ("SNAP"), our nation's first line of defense against hunger, as part of Congress' re-authorization of the Farm Bill of 2012.

                        (2)  The Food Research and Action Center estimates that 12.6% of  District households struggle to put food on the table, and SNAP is currently the nutritional lifeline for nearly 140,000 District residents, including 45,000 children and 10,000 seniors over the age of 60.

                        (3)  SNAP is targeted to assist the most vulnerable households in our communities, with 92% of beneficiary households in the District having incomes below the federal poverty line.

                        (4)  SNAP not only benefits low-income families, but it also spurs local economic activity and supports businesses that serve low- and moderate-income communities. In fact, Moody's Analytics estimates that every $1 spent in SNAP benefits generates $1.71 in economic activity.

                        (5)  The Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012, as approved by the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry on April 26, 2012 (Committee print of S.3240), the Senate's version of the Farm Bill of 2012, decreases funding to SNAP by an estimated amount of $4.5 billion over 10 years, which would adversely affect current SNAP recipients and future applicants.

                        (6)  The Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2012, approved by the Committee on Agriculture on July 11, 2012 (H.R. 6083), the House's version of the Farm Bill of 2012, proposes even larger cuts to SNAP in an amount of $16 billion over 10 years.

                        (7)  Both the House and Senate versions of the Farm Bill of 2012 limit a state’s ability to employ the "Heat and Eat" option, which gives states the flexibility to provide SNAP households with a nominal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program benefit, which allows states to simplify the benefit calculation process and increase benefit allotments for a significant number of households.

                        (8)  The District of Columbia and states that have implemented the "Heat and Eat" option indicate that this option significantly reduces the administrative cost of SNAP, thus reducing lengthy waits and allowing more residents to access the benefits to which they are entitled.

                        (9) The House Agriculture Committee proposal also makes changes to categorical eligibility for the program, which would reduce the access to SNAP that the Council enacted through passage of the SNAP Expansion Act of 2010, effective September 24, 2010 (D.C. Law 18-223; D.C. Official Code § 4-261.21 et seq.), and potentially reduce access to school meals for District students.

                        (10)  The House Agricultural Committee proposal would end the state bonuses for effective SNAP administration, which have provided the District’s Department of Human Services Economic Security Administration with over $1 million in bonus awards based on excellent administration and performance in just the last 3 years.

                        (11)  City leaders and D.C. Hunger Solutions, in partnership with Bread for the City, D.C. Fair Budget Coalition, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington, Capital Area Asset Builders, Defeat Poverty DC, DC Greens, and Washington Area Women’s Foundation, are taking a SNAP/Food Stamp Challenge the week of October 9 through 15, 2012 to raise awareness about the importance of SNAP and the need to strengthen the program.

 

            Sec. 3.  It is the sense of the Council to urge the House of Representatives and Senate to strengthen, not weaken, our nation's nutrition safety net during the 2012 Farm Bill reauthorization process by maintaining the funding and preserving the structure of SNAP as an entitlement program with robust funding to assist those living in hunger during these difficult economic times.

           

            Sec. 4.  This resolution shall take effect immediately upon the first date of publication in the District of Columbia Register.