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Letter to House Regarding Food Stamp Privatization in the Farm Bill (H.R. 2419)

July 25, 2007

Dear Representative:

On behalf of the 1.4 million members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), I strongly urge you to support H.R. 2419, the Farm Bill Extension Act of 2007, and to oppose the Kind-Flake amendment.

H.R. 2419 is a carefully balanced bill that was reported out of the Committee on Agriculture unanimously after lengthy debate and careful deliberations.  The legislation makes important and overdue improvements to the Food Stamp program while also beginning the process of reforming the agricultural subsidy programs.

Of particular importance to AFSCME is a section in the nutrition title of H.R. 2419 that clarifies the longstanding requirement in the Food Stamp Act that state civil service employees conduct the eligibility determination process for food stamps.  The provision is necessary because the Administration has reinterpreted the Food Stamp law to allow Texas and Indiana to turn over most of the eligibility determination process to private companies. 

The Texas experiment was a disaster.  The State canceled its own contract after about 14 months but not before thousands of families failed to receive benefits to which they were entitled and sensitive personal and financial information went astray.  Now Indiana is proceeding down the same path.

The section reinforcing the public administration requirement in the Food Stamp program was thoroughly debated in the Agriculture Committee, and several amendments to strike or modify it were defeated.  AFSCME strongly urges you to oppose any elimination or modification of this provision either as a separate amendment or as part of a larger amendment or motion to recommit.

 While the Kind-Flake amendment may be well-intentioned, it most certainly will unravel the carefully balanced agreement reached in the Committee.  H.R. 2419 makes important reforms in the nation’s farm programs, cutting subsidies for wealthy farmers, and closing loopholes to better target assistance.  The bill may not go as far as some would like but it makes progress in important areas.

We strongly urge you to support the Committee on Agriculture’s work and oppose the Kind-Flake amendment.

 Sincerely,

 Charles M. Loveless
 Director of Legislation

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