Barbara Lee Introduces Bill to Expand Food Stamp Eligibility
Press Release
For Immediate Release: April 15, 2008
Contact: Cleve Mesidor, (202) 225-2661
Barbara Lee Introduces Bill to Expand Food Stamp Eligibility
(Washington, DC) – Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-9) has introduced the Food Assistance to Improve Reintegration Act (FAIR Act) to reverse a provision in the 1996 Welfare Reform bill, which excludes formerly incarcerated individuals convicted of drug felonies, many of whom are women with children, from being eligible to apply for food stamp benefits. She released the following statement:
“Denying access to vital nutrition assistance puts families at risk. The FAIR Act is an important step to correct a flaw in the welfare law that excludes formerly incarcerated individuals convicted of drug felonies, many of whom are women with children, from receiving food stamps. Reversing this wrong is a move towards breaking the cycle of incarceration and promoting healthy families.
“The 1996 provision in the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act, which denies some ex-offenders access to benefits, allows states to opt out of the ban on food stamps. Today there are 22 states that have altered the ban and 17 have opted out entirely. It is in the country’s best interest to provide services to help ex-offenders who have successfully served their sentence transition back into society and properly care for their children.
“I urge my colleagues to join me in correcting this continuing injustice in the law by supporting my bill.”
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Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-9) is Co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and a member of the Appropriations Committee, where she serves on the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Subcommittee.