[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 119 (Tuesday, June 22, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34637-34638]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-13761]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Request for Comments on Whether the Food Stamp Program Should Be 
Renamed

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice invites the general public to comment on whether 
the Food Stamp Program (FSP) should be renamed to more accurately 
describe its current method of operation and goal of providing 
nutritional assistance and promoting health among low-income families. 
The Department and many stakeholders involved with the FSP believe that 
the Program's name is outdated because ``food stamps'' have not been 
used for issuing benefits since the early 1940s. Today, all benefits 
are issued electronically through an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) 
system. Additionally, many States that administer the Federally-funded 
Program have asked the Department to rename the Program in 
consideration of its purpose and in recognition of the benefit issuance 
system. Although outdated, the Program's name is widely known and 
changing it may create confusion. Recognizing these different 
perspectives, the Department intends to proceed with care before making 
a decision on a name change by requesting public comment.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before August 23, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to John Knaus, Chief, Program Design 
Branch, Program Development Division, Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 
22302. Comments may also be faxed to (703) 305-2486 or e-mailed to 
[email protected]. All written comments will be open for public 
inspection at the offices of the Food and Nutrition Service during 
regular business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. eastern time, Monday 
through Friday) at 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, Virginia, 22302, 
Room 810.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions regarding this notice may be

[[Page 34638]]

directed to John Knaus at (703) 305-2098.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Use of Public Comments

    Your comments, in their entirety or summarized, may be posted on 
our Web site. If you wish to request that we withhold your name, street 
address, or other contact information from public review or from Web 
posting, you must state this prominently at the beginning of your 
comment. We will honor requests for confidentiality on a case-by-case 
basis to the extent allowed by law.

Discussion

    The Department and many stakeholders involved with the FSP believe 
that the Program's name is outdated and reflects neither the current 
benefit delivery technology nor the mission of the nation's primary and 
largest nutrition assistance program. One of the common themes heard 
during nationwide ``listening sessions'' conducted by the Department in 
preparation for the Program's Fiscal Year (FY) 2003 reauthorization was 
that the FSP should be renamed to reflect its operation and purpose. 
Although the FSP continues to serve as the cornerstone of the national 
nutrition safety net to reduce hunger and improve nutrition and health 
among low-income people, the use of actual ``stamps'' to issue benefits 
ended decades ago. The FSP currently reaches over 23 million Americans 
each month. Unlike most other assistance programs, the FSP is available 
to most low-income households with few resources wherever they live 
regardless of age, disability status or family structure. In FY 2002, 
over two thirds of all FSP participants were either children, elderly 
or disabled individuals. Even so, more food stamp households relied on 
work (28 percent) to make ends meet than on cash welfare (21 percent). 
Nearly 30 percent of households received Supplemental Security Income 
and almost one quarter (24 percent) received Social Security benefits.
    Over the years, the FSP has demonstrated its responsiveness to 
economic changes, expanding to meet increased need when the economy 
slows and contracting when the economy grows, making sure that food 
gets to people when they need it most. Because benefits automatically 
flow into communities, the economic gain is not only to low-income 
families, but also to the community at large. Every $5 in Federal food 
stamps issued generates an average of $9.20 in local and State economic 
activity.
    The FSP delivers billions of dollars in benefits with a high degree 
of accuracy and accountability. Since 1974, FNS has used a statistical 
sampling system called the Quality Control system to annually measure 
payment accuracy or the amount of overpayments (too many benefits 
issued) and underpayments (too few benefits issued). Based on FY 2002 
data from this system, 98 percent of all participating households are 
entitled to receive benefits and almost 94 cents of every food stamp 
dollar was issued correctly.
    In spite of the FSP's many recent accomplishments, its name remains 
linked to the original program that was operating in 1939 when benefits 
were issued to individuals on welfare in the form of orange and blue 
stamps. That program ended four years later when wartime conditions 
reduced the nation's widespread unemployment. From the time a pilot FSP 
was reinstated in 1961, and made permanent in 1964, food stamp benefits 
were issued to recipients in the form of paper coupons. Today, with 
advancements in modern technology, paper coupons have been replaced by 
electronic issuances through an EBT system.
    In addition to the name being outdated in describing the method by 
which benefits are issued, the FSP is not widely recognized by 
recipients and the general public as a nutrition assistance program 
with a focus on fighting hunger and improving nutrition and health 
among low-income people. Some State program administrators and advocacy 
groups have expressed that this misunderstanding creates a barrier to 
participation and is a reason why nationwide only 3 of 5 persons 
eligible for the Program are participating. Concerned about the 
misperception, some State agencies have already renamed the FSP within 
their States. For example, in Washington State, the FSP is now called 
the ``Washington Basic Food Program'' or ``Basic Food''. The Michigan 
Family Independence Agency and the Minnesota Department of Human 
Services have renamed the FSPs in those States the ``Food Assistance 
Program'' and the ``Food Support Program,'' respectively. Although 
these names are descriptive of the services provided, the Department 
believes that a national program should have a name that is recognized 
across States to promote a consistent message about the FSP's mission 
of providing nutritional assistance and promoting health.
    The Department also believes that any name change should be 
descriptive while reflecting the purposes of the Program to: provide 
nutrition or food assistance; ensure availability to all who are 
eligible; and promote a healthy diet. To this point, it appears that 
most people support changing the Program's current name. However, it 
has been difficult to reach a consensus on a specific alternative. Some 
suggestions for a new Program name that we have heard include the 
``National Food Assistance Program'' (NFAP), the ``Food Security 
Program'' (FSP), the ``Nutrition Support Program'' (NSP), the ``Food 
Support Program'' (FSP), and the ``Food and Nutrition Program'' (FNP). 
While a new name for the Program is not limited to these suggestions, 
we encourage commenters to consider these names.
    To help us in making a decision about the possible renaming of the 
FSP, the Department is requesting responses to the following questions.
    (1) Should the FSP be renamed?
    (2) If not, why not?
    (3) If so, do you have a name you would propose or recommend?
    (4) How does the name change reflect the purpose of the program?
    Once we have compiled the results, the Department will post a 
summary of the responses on its Web site at http://www.fns.usda.gov/fns/. If the Department decides to proceed with a name change, we will 
work with the appropriate Congressional committees to pursue the 
required legislative changes. Any final decision on whether the FSP 
should be renamed and, if so, what its new name should be, rests with 
the Congress.

    Dated: June 7, 2004.
Eric M. Bost,
Under Secretary, Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services.
[FR Doc. 04-13761 Filed 6-21-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P