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CHEH INTRODUCES SNAP EXPANSION ACT OF 2010

BILL WILL EXTEND FOOD-STAMP PROGRAM AVAILABILITY AT NO COST TO THE DISTRICT

(Washington, DC) Councilmember Mary M. Cheh (Ward 3) introduced the SNAP Expansion Act of 2010 during this morning’s Committee of the Whole meeting. The bill, which was co-introduced by Councilmember Michael Brown, would expand the District’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), more commonly known as food stamps, to provide additional SNAP benefits to District residents and enable them to purchase healthy food.

“With a struggling economy and 12% unemployment rate, more and more District residents rely on SNAP in order to feed their families,” said Cheh. “And with the serious budget challenges ahead, we ought to take common-sense steps to improve service delivery.”

The SNAP Expansion Act of 2010 would provide SNAP benefits for a maximum of 5 months for residents who are transitioning off of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. Currently, the District does not provide any transition benefits. It would also provide additional benefits to persons who are homeless and to persons who are self-employed by simplifying how their expenses are calculated. These policies have been adopted by many other states including Maryland and Virginia and are supported by many community groups such at the D.C. Hunger Solutions, Capital Area Food Bank, and the Fair Budget Coalition.

Due to an earlier initiative spearheaded by the Council and recently adopted by the DC Department of Human Services, which allowed households with incomes up to 200% of the federal poverty line to access food stamps, an additional 4,000 DC residents will be eligible for SNAP benefits. Because SNAP is a federally funded program, the US Department of Agriculture will pay for the additional benefits that this bill would create.

“Expanding SNAP is an easy and obvious solution,” said Cheh. “This simple, but important measure, will allow us to put healthier food on the tables of needy families, at no additional cost to the District.”

Click to view a copy of the bill.

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