[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 125 (Wednesday, July 24, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H7257]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        NEW SNAP PROGRAM RULING

  (Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, this week the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture announced and published a new rule that would 
address ``broad-based categorical eligibility'' through the SNAP 
program, formerly known as food stamps.
  Under current law, SNAP recipients in dozens of States have been 
automatically enrolled into the program, despite not really 
demonstrating financial need; simply by receiving other minimal welfare 
services, even just receiving a pamphlet in the mail.
  Now, let me be clear that these changes--anyone who truly is 
economically distressed and eligible will continue to receive SNAP 
benefits. But through the loophole that has been in existence, some 
recipients were enrolled in the program without meeting its asset and 
income tests. The asset and income tests are critical metrics to ensure 
program integrity and prevent benefits from going to those who would 
not normally qualify or truly need the assistance.
  This new regulation attempts to fix this problem by limiting 
categorical eligibility for SNAP recipients only to those recipients 
who receive substantial welfare benefits, rather than nominal ones.
  As the former chairman of the Nutrition Subcommittee, I rise in 
strong support of this proposal. Enacting this rule will help address 
waste and abuse within SNAP, while encouraging the continued 
availability of the program for our friends in need who truly find 
themselves food insecure.

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