[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 146 (Wednesday, October 14, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S12565]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          AMENDMENTS SUBMITTED

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            DENIAL FOR FOOD STAMPS FOR DECEASED INDIVIDUALS

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                 LUGAR (AND HARKIN) AMENDMENT NO. 3822

  Mr. CRAIG (for Mr. Lugar for himself and Mr. Harkin) proposed an 
amendment to the bill (S. 1733) to require the Commissioner of Social 
Security and food stamp State agencies to take certain actions to 
ensure that food stamp coupons are not issued for deceased individuals; 
as follows:

       Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
     following:

     SECTION 1. DENIAL OF FOOD STAMPS FOR DECEASED INDIVIDUALS.

       (a) In General.--Section 11 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 
     (7 U.S.C. 2020) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:
       ``(r) Denial of Food Stamps for Deceased Individuals.--Each 
     State agency shall--
       ``(1) enter into a cooperative arrangement with the 
     Commissioner of Social Security, pursuant to the authority of 
     the Commissioner under section 205(r)(3) of the Social 
     Security Act (42 U.S.C. 405(r)(3)), to obtain information on 
     individuals who are deceased; and
       ``(2) use the information to verify and otherwise ensure 
     that benefits are not issued to individuals who are 
     deceased.''.
       (b) Report.--Not later than September 1, 2000, the 
     Secretary of Agriculture shall submit a report regarding the 
     progress and effectiveness of the cooperative arrangements 
     entered into by State agencies under section 11(r) of the 
     Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2020(r)) (as added by 
     subsection (a)) to--
       (1) the Committee on Agriculture of the House of 
     Representatives;
       (2) the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry 
     of the Senate;
       (3) the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of 
     Representatives;
       (4) the Committee on Finance of the Senate; and
       (5) the Secretary of the Treasury.
       (d) Effective Date.--This section and the amendments made 
     by this section take effect on June 1, 2000.

     SEC. 2. STUDY OF NATIONAL DATABASE FOR FEDERAL MEANS-TESTED 
                   PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall conduct 
     a study of options for the design, development, 
     implementation, and operation of a national database to track 
     participation in Federal means-tested public assistance 
     programs.
       (b) Administration.--In conducting the study, the Secretary 
     shall--
       (1) analyze available data to determine--
       (A) whether the data have addressed the needs of the food 
     stamp program established under the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 
     U.S.C. 2011 et seq.);
       (B) whether additional or unique data need to be developed 
     to address the needs of the food stamp program; and
       (C) the feasibility and cost-benefit ratio of each 
     available option for a national database;
       (2) survey the States to determine how the States are 
     enforcing the prohibition on recipients receiving assistance 
     in more than 1 State under Federal means-tested public 
     assistance programs;
       (3) determine the functional requirements of each available 
     option for a national database; and
       (4) ensure that all options provide safeguards to protect 
     against the unauthorized use or disclosure of information in 
     the national database.
       (c) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress 
     a report on the results of the study conducted under this 
     section.
       (d) Funding.--Out of any moneys in the Treasury not 
     otherwise appropriated, the Secretary of the Treasury shall 
     provide to the Secretary of Agriculture $500,000 to carry out 
     this section. The Secretary shall be entitled to receive the 
     funds and shall accept the funds, without further 
     appropriation.
       Amend the title so as to read: ``A bill to amend the Food 
     Stamp Act of 1977 to require food stamp State agencies to 
     take certain actions to ensure that food stamp coupons are 
     not issued for deceased individuals, to require the Secretary 
     of Agriculture to conduct a study of options for the design, 
     development, implementation, and operation of a national 
     database to track participation in Federal means-tested 
     public assistance programs, and for other purposes.''.

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