[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 58 (Wednesday, April 11, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S4383]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. STABENOW (for herself and Mr. Domenici):
  S. 1090. A bill to amend the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act 
of 1973 to assist the neediest of senior citizens by modifying the 
eligibility criteria for supplemental foods provided under the 
commodity supplemental food program to take into account the 
extraordinarily high out-of-pocket medical expenses that senior 
citizens pay, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Agriculture, 
Nutrition, and Forestry.
  Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Senior 
Nutrition Act, which will make needed improvements to the Commodity 
Supplemental Food Program to prevent our seniors from having to make 
the terrible choice between food and medicine as they try to balance 
their budgets.
  I am pleased to have the support of my friend, Senator Domenici of 
New Mexico, who has been one of the Senate's strongest supporters of 
CSFP.
  Nationally, 32 States and the District of Columbia participate in 
CSFP, which works to improve the health of both women with children and 
seniors by supplementing their diets with nutritious USDA commodity 
foods. According to USDA, nearly half a million people each month 
participated in CSFP during fiscal year 2006, with the overwhelming 
majority being seniors.
  My State of Michigan has one of the largest and oldest CSFP network 
in the Nation. Last year, over 80,000 people in Michigan benefited from 
this important program.
  The bill I am introducing today will make the following important 
changes to CSFP.
  First, categorical eligibility is granted for seniors for CSFP if the 
individual participates or is eligible to participate in the Food Stamp 
Program. No further verification of income would be necessary in such 
cases. The Food Stamp Program provides a medical expense deduction, 
which seniors may use to account for their high prescription drug 
costs.
  Second, this bill says that the same income standard that is 
currently used to determine eligibility for women, infants and children 
in CSFP 185 percent of the Poverty Income Guidelines--would be applied 
to seniors as well. The current income eligibility standard for seniors 
has been capped at just 130 percent. Under the current Federal poverty 
guidelines, a single senior cannot earn more than $13,273 per year to 
qualify. By raising the standard to 185 percent of poverty, the same 
senior can earn as much as $18,888 to qualify for food. This will make 
a major difference in the lives of so many seniors who are struggling 
with the high cost of prescription drugs.
  This bill has been endorsed by the National CSFP Association and 
America's Second Harvest. I ask unanimous consent that a copy of these 
support letters be printed in the Record following my remarks.
  There being no objection, the letters were ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:


                                    National CSFP Association,

                                                   March 19, 2007.
     Hon. Debbie Stabenow
     U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Stabenow: Thank you for your continuing 
     support of the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) 
     which provides an important buffer for our vulnerable 
     children and seniors each month. Your support has made a 
     tremendous difference and we appreciate your tireless 
     efforts.
       The National CSFP Association strongly supports your 
     efforts to re-introduce and pass the Senior Nutrition Act and 
     will work diligently to see that it happens this year. As you 
     know, 91% of our recipients are now seniors living below 130% 
     of Federal Poverty Level. For a household of one, this is 
     only a maximum of $1,062 per month. While some changes have 
     been made in Medicare to help seniors buy prescriptions, the 
     rising medical and fuel costs are still of great concern to 
     those on fixed incomes and many of those seniors qualifying 
     for food stamps due to medical cost deductions will lose the 
     deductions to income and subsequently their food stamps.
       By amending the eligibility criteria for seniors served by 
     CSFP through the Senior Nutrition Act, the neediest of 
     seniors will continue to receive nutrition assistance, which 
     is crucial if they are to remain in good health.
       Again, thank you for championing the causes of our nation's 
     elderly.
           Sincerely,
                                                      Frank Kubik,
     President.
                                  ____

                                         America's Second Harvest,


                               The Nation's Food Bank Network,

                                                   March 27, 2007.
     Hon. Debbie Stabenow,
     U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Stabenow: I am writing on behalf of the more 
     than 200 food banks and approximately 50,000 emergency 
     feeding organizations that are part of America's Second 
     Harvest--The Nation's Food Bank Network, to thank you for 
     your continuing support for the Commodity Supplemental Food 
     Program (CSFP) and your persistent efforts to improve the 
     nutrition and health of millions of this nation's elderly.
       With approximately 27 percent of our food bank members 
     distributing nutritious food boxes through the CSFP, we know 
     how very necessary it is to expand this program so that it 
     can reach more of the nation's needy seniors. Strengthening 
     the nutrition safety net for older Americans is a matter of 
     paramount importance as this population grows and ages.
       We strongly endorse the Senior Nutrition Act and support 
     your and Senator Domenici's effort to expand the number of 
     elderly eligible for the program by broadening the income 
     eligibility standards and permitting categorical eligibility 
     for seniors who participate in or are eligible to participate 
     in the Food Stamp Program.
       As you know, the CSFP provides critical nutrients to 
     supplement the diets of thousands of low-income elderly who 
     could not replace this food at the same low price as that 
     provided by the CSFP food package. Moreover, as you are 
     aware, this program also helps to support our nation's 
     farmers who grow the food that feeds this needy population, 
     along with millions of others who depend on our country's 
     food and nutrition programs.
       We are very grateful for your efforts to expand eligibility 
     for this important program and for the contribution you have 
     always made in waging the war against hunger in America. 
     Thank you very much.
       Sincerely,
                                                    Vicki Escarra,
     President and CEO.

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