The program was revived in the early 1960's, and received national attention after CBS aired a documentary in 1968 called Hunger in America, which showed children dying of severe malnutrition many years after the Depression, and shocked the nation into expanding food stamps as part of the War on Poverty. In 1977, U.S. Senators Bob Dole and George McGovern created the program as we know it today, through landmark legislation that expanded participation and eliminated the process of purchasing food stamps.
As part of the "Farm Bill" changes made in October of 2008, the name of the program nationally was changed to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The new name represents the program's focus on nutrition and putting healthy food within reach for low income Oregonians.
http://oregonhunger.org/history-food-stamps-and-snapDole co-wrote an op-ed with Tom Daschle about this a few days ago. With the Republicans also sinking the UN Disabilities Treaty, they've well and truly thrown their 1996 presidential nominee under the bus. They can't stand any conservative who shows a bit of compassion.
The special relationship in the legislative process between agriculture and those who need assistance from the SNAP program is also built on this tradition. In the modern era, funding for this vital program has been extended as part of the farm bill with relatively little partisan bickering — until now. By stripping the nutrition title from the legislation this year, the House has severed the vital tie that helps connect our food system with those who struggle with hunger in our own backyard.
Over time, we have worked hard to improve the program’s efficiency and effectiveness. In 2011, SNAP lifted 47 million people out of poverty, and 72 percent of its participants were families with children. The error rate — the combined rate for underpayments and overpayments — has been on a steady decline since the 1990s. And a 2008 Moody’s Analytics study shows that every $1 spent to help reduce hunger has resulted in $1.70 in economic activity.
Tackling our nation’s hunger issues has always resulted in a win-win situation for farmers, low-income families and our economy. The latest proposal from the House is an about-face on our progress fighting hunger. It would eliminate food assistance for 4 million to 6 million Americans.
If Congress lets this bill fall victim to the misguided and detrimental partisan politics we face today, the results for families and children challenged with hunger will be severe. In a country struggling to emerge from the worst economic recession since the Depression, this is no time to play politics with hunger. As friends and colleagues, we hope that the House will do the right thing and follow the Senate’s lead in passing a farm bill with adequate funding for food assistance. Our nation’s future depends on it.
http://psdispatch.com/news/othercommentary/840649/
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