[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 69 (Thursday, May 16, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E683]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      CONCERNS REGARDING PROPOSED CUTS TO FUNDING FOR FOOD STAMPS

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                            HON. ALBIO SIRES

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 16, 2013

  Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my serious concern 
about the proposed cuts to funding for food stamps in the 2013 Farm 
Bill.
  Food stamps are critical to the health and wellbeing of our Nation's 
most vulnerable populations. In my home State of New Jersey, nearly 
870,000 households rely on this benefit to feed their families. Of that 
number, 45 percent are children and nearly 25 percent are either 
elderly or disabled adults.
  As it stands, food stamp benefits average less than $1.50 per person 
for each meal, and that number is already set to drop to about $1.40 
this fall when a temporary boost from the Recovery Act ends.
  Every one of us knows how difficult it would be to feed their 
children or aging parents a nutritious meal for that amount of money. 
And yet, the farm bill would slash federal spending for food stamps by 
more than $21 billion over the next decade, eliminating food assistance 
to nearly 2 million people.
  I understand the need to bring our budget under control, but I 
encourage my colleagues to find a smarter path forward. Let us not 
balance the budget on the backs of those among us who are the most 
vulnerable.

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