[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 142 (Friday, October 11, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1501-E1502]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            REFORMS ADD INTEGRITY TO SNAP FOOD STAMP PROGRAM

                                  _____
                                 

                           HON. VIRGINIA FOXX

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 11, 2013

  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, Americans are a good and generous people and 
don't begrudge helping needy families, and especially children, when 
times are tough. Sometimes our friends, neighbors, and their kids need 
a little help to get by after a layoff or personal hardship. But we do 
demand that our tax dollars be spent honestly and in direct support of 
those who need the aid. Today, that's not always the case.
  The United States Department of Agriculture is spending tax dollars 
to advertise the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) on 
TV, radio, billboards, and through

[[Page E1502]]

agreements with foreign governments. Through loopholes and questionable 
recruitment activities, people whose incomes exceeds the SNAP 
threshold, illegal immigrants, and even the deceased are counted among 
those receiving taxpayer benefits. Able-bodied adults, too, are 
receiving food stamp assistance at record levels.
  In a down economy, heightened demand makes sense, but with the 
President's 2009 waiver of work requirements for SNAP recipients, the 
percentage of able-bodied Americans receiving aid has increased 163%. 
By comparison, total participants in the SNAP program, including the 
able-bodied population, increased 70.3%.
  This week in the House of Representatives, we voted to make America's 
food stamp program stronger and more accountable to the American 
people.
  The Nutrition Reform & Work Opportunity Act is designed to preserve 
the integrity of the SNAP program for families, and especially 
children, who rely on food stamps. Reforms in this legislation put 
stronger protections in place to ensure that SNAP money is reserved 
only for those who qualify for food stamps and isn't wasted on 
government public relations campaigns, medical marijuana purchases, or 
lottery winners. Questionable loopholes and recruitment activities 
which extend assistance to those who make too much money are also 
ended.
  Further, consistent with the bipartisan belief that the solution to 
poverty is found through work, not just aid, the Nutrition Reform & 
Work Opportunity Act reinstates Clinton-era SNAP work requirements. 
These rules stipulate that able-bodied adults, with no dependents, must 
be looking for work, developing job skills, volunteering for community 
service, or obtain employment to draw food stamp benefits. Not only 
will this provision ensure that the truly needy continue to receive 
aid, it will help beneficiaries compete and prepare for jobs.
  An unchecked SNAP program that wastes its limited resources on 
publicity campaigns or subsidizing those who do not qualify is unable 
to provide the best service to the people it is designed to help. It is 
the job of this Congress to ensure the program is held accountable as a 
steward of taxpayer dollars and as a safety net of last resort for the 
needy.
  Nothing in this legislation adds to SNAP's eligibility requirements, 
so not one law-abiding beneficiary who today meets SNAP's income and 
asset tests, and who is willing to comply with applicable, bi-partisan 
work requirements, will lose their benefits.
  Yet this legislation has its critics on the right and on the left.
  Many on the left are crying foul because enforcing eligibility rules, 
requiring work or job search from the able-bodied and eliminating 
loopholes will lead to some current SNAP beneficiaries being dropped. 
Although that is true, it is because there are people today drawing 
benefits who should not be.
  One of America's greatest strengths is that we are a nation of laws. 
Regardless of the example set by this White House, the government 
cannot operate outside of the law. We cannot pick and choose which to 
obey. If our laws set forth a standard for eligibility, recipients must 
meet the standard.
  On the right, some are asking whether the savings and reforms in this 
legislation go far enough. I echo those concerns, and agree that even 
$40 billion in SNAP savings seems a small sum compared to Washington's 
vast mandatory overspending machine.
  Do we need to find more savings? Absolutely. But the Nutrition Reform 
& Work Opportunity Act improves the existing SNAP system and gives our 
country a unique chance to reform a mandatory spending program and rid 
it of inexcusable waste, fraud, and abuse.
  The Nutrition Reform & Work Opportunity Act is a step in the right 
direction toward ensuring the integrity of the SNAP program and that 
benefits are reserved for those who qualify and for those working to 
get back on their feet. Supporting this legislation is the responsible 
and conservative choice.

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