I 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 596 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 15, 2009 Mr. Weiner introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture A BILL To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to reduce hunger, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Economic Recovery Through Increased Feeding Act of 2009.

2.

Fingerprinting prohibited

Section 11(e)(2)(D) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2020(e)(2)(D)) is amended by inserting the following before the semicolon at the end: , and the fingerprint or any other form of biometic testing of any member of a household shall not be required for the purpose of participating in the supplemental nutrition assistance program or for issuance of benefits for which the household would otherwise be eligible.

3.

Expanded eligibility in high unemployment areas

Section 6(o) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015(o)) is amended— (1)in paragraph (2) by striking 3 months and inserting 12 months, and (2)in paragraph 4(A) by striking On the request of a State agency, the Secretary may and inserting The Secretary shall.

4.

Participation in supplemental nutrition assistance program in cities

(a)

Reports

The Secretary of Agriculture shall— (1)require the appropriate States to submit to the Secretary reports identifying the levels of participation in the supplemental nutrition assistance program by eligible households located in the 25 largest cities in the United States, and (2)submit to the Congress a report identifying the results contained in the reports required by paragraph (1). (b)

Activities To increase participation

(1)

Requirement

If a State submits a report under subsection (a)(1) that identifies a city in which the participation rate of eligible households in the supplemental nutrition assistance program is less than 85 percent, the Secretary of Agriculture shall require such State to implement practices to increase such participation rate. (2)

Definition

The term practices means telephone interviews, educational public service announcements, town halls, and other services that the State deems fit to increase the participation rate to more than 85 percent of eligible households.

5.

Grants to improve access to benefits

Section 11(t) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2020(t)) is amended— (1)in paragraph (1) by striking $5,000,000 and inserting $15,000,000, and (2)in paragraph (5)— (A)in subparagraph (A) by striking and at the end, (B)in subparagraph (B) by striking the period at the end and inserting and, and (C)by adding at the end the following: (C)shall give special consideration to eligible entities that are nonprofit organizations that provide on site at the locations of such organizations online application support to eligible households. .

6.

Encourage better nutrition

(a)

EBT card access at farmers’ markets

The Secretary of Agriculture shall carry out a program to support the use of electronic benefits transfers for Federal nutrition programs at farmers’ markets by means of installing or modernizing electronic benefit transfer equipment at such markets and by providing educational forums on the benefits of nutrition program participation at such markets. (b)

Limitations

Funds available to carry out this section— (1)may not be used for the ongoing cost of carrying out any project, and (2)shall only be provided to eligible entities that demonstrate a plan to continue to provide electronic benefit transfer card access at 1 or more farmers’ markets following the receipt of such funds. (c)

Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated $25,000,000 to carry out this section.