[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 86 (Thursday, May 24, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6896-S6897]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. HARKIN (for himself and Mr. Lugar):
  S. 1529. A bill to amend the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to end benefit 
erosion, support working families with child care expenses, encourage 
retirement and education savings, and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
  Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, throughout my time in the United States 
Congress, I have worked with my colleagues to promote the economic 
security of low-income and working American families. In many respects, 
we have made significant progress, but in others, much work remains to 
be done. The last several years have been difficult ones for low-income 
Americans. Since 2000, the number of Americans living in poverty has 
increased by 5 million. At the same time, wages have stagnated for 
Americans in the bottom tenth of earners. It's no surprise that more 
and more Americans have turned to vital Federal food assistance such as 
the Food Stamp Program, which this year will serve 26 million 
Americans.
  The Food Stamp Program is our Nation's first line of defense against 
hunger, providing modest but vital benefits to millions of American 
families, and also serving our country during times of extraordinary 
need. In fact, the Food Stamp Program played a crucial role in helping 
millions of Americans who were devastated by the Gulf Coast hurricanes 
of 2005.
  Unfortunately, Congress has not taken action to modernize the program 
so that it addresses the current challenges that low-income Americans 
must face. It is time for Congress to make such needed program 
improvements. With the food stamp reauthorization pending as part of 
the upcoming farm bill, we have an opportunity and an obligation to 
invest in the Food Stamp Program and, in so doing, in the food security 
and health of our country's families.
  Today I am joined by my good friend and colleague, Senator Lugar from 
Indiana, in introducing the Food Stamp Fairness and Benefit Restoration 
Act of 2007. I thank the Senator from Indiana for his long-time efforts 
to fight hunger in America, and for joining me today to introduce this 
legislation.
  The bill that we are introducing today contains several particular 
improvements.
  First and foremost, the legislation would halt food stamp benefit 
erosion that is occurring as a result of draconian cuts enacted in the 
mid-90s. As a result of these cuts, food stamp benefits are eroding 
with every passing year and, as they do, the economic situations of 
families receiving food stamps grows ever more precarious.
  Second, the bill would enable families to deduct fully the costs of 
child care for purposes of eligibility and benefit determination. 
Currently, program rules allow families to deduct just $175 per month 
of the cost of child care. Not only has this deduction not been 
adjusted to account for increases in the cost of child care, but it 
comes nowhere near covering the cost of child care, which nationwide 
averages almost $650 per month.
  Third, the legislation would update archaic program rules regarding 
the resources that a family may have and still receive food stamps. In 
1977, Congress established a program rule that said that a family may 
have $1,750 in available liquid assets and still receive food stamps. 
Had this asset limit been adjusted for inflation, today a family would 
be able to have nearly $6,000 in savings and still receive food stamps. 
Instead, we allow just $2,000. This makes no sense. Not only does it 
actively discourage families from saving for their future, it all but 
requires families that experience an economic shock such as a job loss 
or a medical emergency to spend down their savings to hit absolute rock 
bottom just to receive meager food benefits. It is time to adjust this 
asset limit and stop discouraging families from doing what we tell 
every other American that they must do--save. To that end, the bill 
also exempts tax-preferred retirement and educational savings accounts.
  Fourth, this bill restores food stamp eligibility for legal immigrant 
households. This too is nothing but a basic restoration of a principle 
of fairness that existed prior to the mid-1990s. Unfortunately, 
Congress chose, unwisely in my opinion, to take away benefits from 
those legal immigrants who played by the rules and legally entered our 
country. Keep in mind these are families who work and are part of our 
society. I disagreed with the decision then and I disagree with it 
today. It is time to rectify this grave injustice and abide by the 
basic principle that those who enter the country legally and play by 
the same rules as the rest of us, should also be eligible for the same 
benefits for which they pay taxes. Our bill would do that.

  Fifth, the legislation would set more humane eligibility standards 
for unemployed, childless adults. These individuals are among the 
poorest in our country and often have significant

[[Page S6897]]

mental health and substance abuse problems. They are, in short, among 
the people who need our help the most. But ironically, they are among 
those who we deny the most basic of food assistance. Currently, such 
adults can receive food stamps for only 3 months out of every 3 years. 
This legislation proposes a modestly more sympathetic standard of 6 
months out of every 2-year period.
  Finally, my bill would increase funding for commodity purchases for 
food banks and community food providers. U.S. Government donations to 
food banks have dropped dramatically in recent years, even as the 
number of Americans seeking help from community food providers has 
consistently increased.
  I know that the budget is tight and that Congress must be prudent in 
decisions about how we allocate funding. But I also know that there is 
no function of the federal government as basic and as critical as 
ensuring that low-income Americans, families with children, elderly 
living on fixed incomes, and persons with disabilities, have enough 
food for their next meal. It is past time for Congress to act in this 
regard, and I hope that my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will 
join me and the Senator from Indiana to enact the Food Stamp Fairness 
and Benefit Restoration Act of 2007.

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