[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 2 (Thursday, January 5, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E55]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


            FOOD STAMP PROGRAM SHOULD MEET NUTRITIONAL NEEDS

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                           HON. BILL EMERSON

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 5, 1995
  Mr. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing legislation that 
would allow people who use food stamps to balance their diets and 
purchase vitamin and mineral nutritional supplements.
  While it is possible to get adequate levels of most nutrients through 
careful selection of foods, the fact is that most people don't. The 
facts speak for themselves. A Government survey of 21,000 people showed 
that not a single person obtained 100 percent of the recommended 
dietary allowance [RDA] for each of the 10 nutrients. The National 
Cancer Institute recommends that people eat at least five servings of 
fruits and vegetables a day, but less than 10 percent of the U.S. 
population actually consumes five servings of these protective foods 
daily.
  Last year, with overwhelming public support, the Congress passed the 
Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994. This legislative 
action was necessary to protect consumers' right of access to safe 
dietary supplements. Because of the growing scientific evidence of 
important health benefits from supplements, both established and 
potential, I believe food stamp recipients should be allowed the same 
access as other Americans to supplements containing essential vitamins 
and minerals.
  Of course, the Food Stamp Program is our Nation's first line of 
defense against hunger. Each month, approximately 27 million low-income 
Americans rely on the Food Stamp Program to meet their basic 
nutritional needs. The purchase of vitamin and mineral supplements 
would complement the healthy and nutritious foods currently bought by 
food stamp recipients.
  Vitamins and minerals are essential nutrients needed for good health 
and many vital functions. They can be found in conventional foods, 
either naturally or through fortification and enrichment, and in the 
form of supplements. Many millions of Americans use vitamin and mineral 
supplements every day. However, people who rely on food stamps to 
purchase their daily sustenance are not allowed to use their food 
stamps for supplements.
  My legislation is simple and would permit vitamin and mineral 
supplements to be purchased with food stamp coupons. I view this 
legislation as a positive step forward in providing low-income 
Americans greater flexibility in meeting their nutritional needs 
through the use of wholesome and healthful vitamin and mineral 
supplements. I urge all of my colleagues to take a close look at this 
legislation and consider the positive health benefits that vitamin and 
mineral supplements can add to a healthy diet.


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