Senator Baldwin Against New USDA Rule Regarding Food Stamps
Friday, September 27th, 2019 -- 7:45 AM
(WRN) -Senator Tammy Baldwin has joined a broad effort to fight a new USDA rule that could kick millions of people off of food stamps.Senator Tammy Baldwin is joining a nationwide effort to stop changes to USDA rules that would strip food stamps from millions of people. The new rule would prohibit state from bundling SNAP benefits along with state based assistance programs.
"Potential eligible people have to go to different agencies and have to sign up through multiple applications. Several states have taken the lead to streamline that and have one application."
The rule bans states from engaging in 'categorical eligibility'. Baldwin says that means states will no longer be able to let people apply for SNAP at the same time as applying for state assistance.
"Basically dual tracking the eligibility for several different low income programs."
Over 118-thousand Wisconsin residents would lose nutritional benefits, and Baldwin says the rule would also force families that receive reduced or free school lunches from those programs as well.
"The states have streamlined the application to make sure that we're prioritizing children's nutritional access. So about half a million children nationally would lose access to school meals."
The USDA wants to prevent states from engaging in 'categorical eligibility' which allows them to sign eligible people up for multiple services and benefits at the same time. Baldwin says the most recent Farm Bill specifically avoid applying that rule.
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