[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 165 (Thursday, September 23, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1015]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





  EQUAL ACCESS TO THE RIGHT NUTRITION FOR MILITARY FAMILIES ACT (EARN 
                                  ACT)

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 23, 2021

  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, today, my colleague, Mr. 
Fortenberry of Nebraska, and I will introduce the bipartisan Equal 
Access to the Right Nutrition Act for Military Families--better known 
as the EARN Act.
  The food insecurity rate among active-duty military families is 14 
percent higher than the national average of 10.5 percent.
  This affects service members from all ranks, especially junior 
enlisted as well as service members of color.
  The EARN Act is an innovative solution to this problem that will 
increase military family access to the Supplemental Nutrition 
Assistance Program--commonly known as Foods Stamps or SNAP.
  It removes variability in state administered SNAP programs by 
establishing a federally administered SNAP benefit for military 
families with streamlined national eligibility requirements for 
military households.
  It encourages participation in SNAP by requiring the U.S. Department 
of Defense to notify qualifying military families of their eligibility 
and automatically enroll families in the program unless they decide to 
opt out.
  Finally, it eases the transition back to civilian life by 
establishing a transitional, temporary SNAP benefit for those leaving 
service.
  When a person makes the commitment and sacrifice to serve our country 
in the military, we must honor this by ensuring that their basic needs 
are met.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill.

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