[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 98 (Wednesday, July 10, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1041-E1042]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




MINNESOTA LISTENING SESSION ON THE CUTS TO FOOD ASSISTANCE IN HOUSE GOP 
                               FARM BILL

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 10, 2013

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, on June 10, 2013, Congressman Ellison and 
I hosted a listening session at the Minnesota State Capitol. We heard 
from Minnesotans affected by the House Farm Bill's proposed cuts to the 
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Below is testimony delivered 
by Dale Simonson and Patricia Lull.

  Testimony From Dale Simonson, Minnesota Department of Human Services

       Here is a brief overview of the demographics of the SNAP 
     recipients statewide. There are about 554,000 adults and 
     children on SNAP in approximately 259,700 cases. Children 
     make up almost 48% of the SNAP population.
       There are 77,417 SNAP family cases.
       66% of the family cases reported income from work
       Average age of adults with children is 35 years
       There are 39,671 senior cases on SNAP.
       Average age is 70 years
       61% had income from Retirement, Survivors Disabilities 
     Insurance (RSDI)
       There are 88,942 disabled cases on SNAP.
       There are 62,477 cases that are categorized as ``other'' 
     adults.

[[Page E1042]]

       Within this category are able bodied adults without 
     dependents (ABAWDs)
       These people are disconnected from employment compared to 
     other SNAP participants as 56% have no other reported income 
     sources than SNAP.
       The average benefit per recipient is $118 and per case is 
     $245.
       Race/ethnicity demographics of SNAP cases are 59% white, 
     24% black, 7% Asian, 4% Hispanic, 4% American Indian with 
     multiple races comprising the rest.
       That is a very brief overview of the SNAP population in MN. 
     The data being used today comes from the Characteristics of 
     People and Cases on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program 
     in December 2012 as well as the Family Self-Sufficiency 
     Report. Both of these reports are available on the DHS public 
     website.
       The biggest impact on SNAP recipients in MN would come from 
     the proposed restriction in the House bill on the state 
     ability to use categorical eligibility.
       Broad based categorical eligibility is a policy that makes 
     most households categorically eligible for SNAP because they 
     qualify for a non-cash TANF funded benefit. This allows 
     states to raise the income limit up to a maximum of 200% 
     Federal Poverty Guideline (FPG) and raise or eliminate the 
     asset limit.
       The MN legislature passed a bill effective Nov., 2010 
     allowing expansion of broad based categorical eligibility to 
     all SNAP cases by increasing the income standard from 130% to 
     165% of FPG and eliminating the asset limit.
       Sec. 4005 of the House bill would remove this state option.
       DHS estimates that 6.4% of the caseload or 16,700 cases 
     with over 32,000 people would be made ineligible because 
     their income is above 130% FPG yet below 165% FPG. Of these 
     cases, over 8,000 are family cases that will be ineligible 
     due to over income. The children on these cases would no 
     longer be automatically eligible for free or reduced school 
     lunch.
       DHS no longer collects asset information for SNAP. 
     Therefore, we do not have data on the number of cases that 
     would be ineligible due to being over the asset limit.
       The House bill provides a permanent reduction in funding 
     for SNAP-Ed. This proposed cut comes on the heels of the 
     program's fiscal year 2013 budget cut of 28 percent that was 
     included in the fiscal cliff agreement, resulting in 
     decreased program activity.
       Minnesota's share of SNAP-Ed has been approximately 2.5% of 
     the federal allocation.
       Minnesota's current allocation for SNAP-Ed is about 
     $7,000,000 (cut included).
       Further cuts will impact the reach and impact that SNAP-Ed 
     has on Minnesota's population in poverty.
       SNAP-Ed is delivered by community nutrition educators from 
     the University of Minnesota Extension Service and Minnesota 
     Chippewa Tribe. They use evidence-based, behaviorally-focused 
     curriculum to help Minnesotans with limited financial 
     resources stretch food dollars and make healthy choices.
       In FY 2012, the U of M Extension offered SNAP-Ed 
     programming in 84 of 87 counties directly serving 
     approximately 65,000 persons (unduplicated).
       In FY 2012, the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe offered SNAP-Ed 
     programming on six reservations (Bois Forte, Fond du Lac, 
     Grand Portage, Leech Lake, Mille Lacs, and White Earth) 
     directly serving 6,778 persons (unduplicated).
       U of M Extension program evaluation outcomes point to 
     positive SNAP-Ed results. Over half of SNAP-Ed participants 
     engaged in healthy eating and physical activity behaviors by 
     the final course session. In addition, participants indicated 
     an average of greater than 1/3 cup increased intake of both 
     fruits and vegetables per day over the span of a course.
       These are the two major provisions that will have the 
     greatest impact on low income Minnesotans on SNAP if these 
     cuts are adopted.
       Thank you for your time.

 Testimony Submitted by Patricia Lull, Executive Director of the Saint 
                     Paul Area Council of Churches

       Thank you for this opportunity to address the difference 
     that SNAP benefits make in our community.
       I serve as Executive Director of the Saint Paul Area 
     Council of Churches, a non-profit representing 125 local 
     communities of faith. We come from Christian, Jewish, Muslim, 
     Unitarian, and Quaker backgrounds but every one of our faith 
     traditions agrees with this conviction--No more hungry 
     neighbors!
       I am here to say that as a person of faith and a citizen. 
     No more hungry neighbors! In recent years we have made great 
     strides in addressing domestic hunger and SNAP has been an 
     important part of what we have done well as a country. It 
     serves our most vulnerable neighbors--children, seniors, and 
     working families. It serves them in a way that supports local 
     economies (grocery stores and farmers markets) and energizes 
     our children to succeed in school and in life.
       While it is important to balance our federal budget, 
     cutting SNAP benefits to our most vulnerable neighbors should 
     be the last option we exercise. The proposed cuts will 
     negatively impact all of us who work with families in 
     poverty. Let me illustrate that.
       The Saint Paul Area Council of Churches hosts an emergency 
     food shelf for the American Indian community in Ramsey 
     County. We provide food to 500 individuals a month--enough 
     for 6,000 meals. Use of our food shelf has increased by 30% 
     since last August. More families. More need. More demand on 
     us to do what all of us as citizens are asked to do--provide 
     for those who are most at risk.
       Some of our food shelf participants are also volunteers. A 
     couple of months ago, Larry and I worked side-by-side 
     unloading a delivery from Second Harvest, our food bank. 
     Larry is a father and grand-father. He is also a hard worker, 
     carrying in three times as many boxes as I did. When the 
     truck was unloaded and all the food was put away, I thanked 
     him for all he had done. Larry looked me squarely in the eye, 
     pointed to his heart, and said--I do this for the community.
       Those who receive SNAP benefits--and those who will be 
     excluded from benefits if cuts are made--they are our 
     community, too. On behalf of them I say, No more hungry 
     neighbors!

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