IV 112th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 564 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 27, 2012 Ms. Schakowsky (for herself, Mr. Baca, Mr. Brady of Pennsylvania, Mrs. Christensen, Mr. Cicilline, Mr. Clarke of Michigan, Mr. Cleaver, Mr. Conyers, Mr. Courtney, Mr. Davis of Illinois, Ms. DeLauro, Mr. Ellison, Mr. Frank of Massachusetts, Ms. Fudge, Mr. Grijalva, Mr. Gutierrez, Mr. Hastings of Florida, Mr. Holt, Mr. Honda, Ms. Jackson Lee of Texas, Ms. Kaptur, Mr. Kucinich, Ms. Lee of California, Mr. Lewis of Georgia, Mr. McGovern, Ms. Moore, Ms. Norton, Ms. Richardson, Mr. Sablan, Mr. Serrano, Ms. Speier, Ms. Woolsey, and Mr. Welch) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture RESOLUTION Recognizing the critical importance of the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP), formerly called the food stamp program.

Whereas the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) provides essential nutrition for 46 million Americans; Whereas research has found that SNAP benefits increase a household’s overall dietary quality, as measured by the USDA Healthy Eating Index; Whereas to qualify for SNAP assistance, a household must typically have an annual income that does not exceed 130 percent of the Federal poverty line, for example approximately $24,000 for a household of 3; Whereas SNAP participants include the elderly, the disabled, children, 1-parent households, 2-parent households, low-wage workers, the unemployed, students, soldiers, and military families, and white, black, Hispanic, Asian, and Native Americans; Whereas children make up nearly half of SNAP beneficiaries; Whereas SNAP is effective and efficient, as evidenced by the facts that every $1 in benefits generates $1.72 in economic activity; each $1 billion in SNAP funding supports 3,300 farm jobs; and the SNAP payment error rate is at an all-time low and compares equally or favorably to any other Federal program; Whereas the Food Stamp Act of 1964, which established permanent authority to carry out the assistance program, enjoyed bipartisan support; Whereas more SNAP participants were added under the previous administration than have been added under the current administration; Whereas SNAP benefits can only be used for household foods and for seeds or plants that produce food, and may not be used to purchase nonfood items; Whereas SNAP provides a bridge to low-income families, with half of participants no longer relying on the program within 9 months of receiving their first benefits; Whereas SNAP has not and will not contribute to the Nation’s long-term fiscal problems; Whereas nearly half of all SNAP households with children have a working adult but, due to low wages, qualify for food assistance; Whereas SNAP kept more than 4 million Americans out of poverty in 2010 and lessened the severity of poverty for millions of others; Whereas the large SNAP caseload reflects the severe recession from which we are just beginning to emerge; Whereas SNAP participation rates have increased by more than 130 percent in the States hit hardest by the recession, including the States of Nevada, Florida, Utah, and Idaho; Whereas SNAP’s recent growth is temporary, and the program is expected to experience decreased participation once our economy is back on track; and Whereas every major religion speaks to the importance of preventing hunger and suffering: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1)recognizes that no ethnic, demographic, religious, or cultural group has been unaffected by our prolonged economic struggles; (2)recognizes the significance of the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) to the American people; and (3)supports adequate funding for SNAP moving forward as a means of preventing hunger and strengthening the Nation.