Res. No. 1212

Resolution calling upon Congress to pass H.R. 2419, the Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007, which will increase the minimum food stamp grant, and the president to sign it into law.

By Council Members Brewer, Dickens, Fidler, Gonzalez, James, Koppell, Sanders Jr., Seabrook, Stewart, Weprin, White Jr., Gerson and Mendez

Whereas, Section 8 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (U.S.C.§ 2017(a)) states “that for households of one and two persons the minimum allotment [of food stamps] shall be $10 per month;” and

Whereas, Proposed H.R. 2419, in order to more accurately reflect the needs of people in the United States and combat hunger, strikes the “$10 per month” clause and inserts “10 percent of the thrifty food plan for a household containing 1 member, as determined by the Secretary [of Agriculture] under section 3”; and

Whereas, The Secretary of Agriculture is responsible for studying the cost of food in America through the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion which issues official budgets on the costs of food; and 

Whereas, According to the USDA’s Official Food Plans there are four levels that range from the Thrifty plan (least costly) to the Liberal plan (most costly), which vary by age and family size; and

Whereas, In October 2007, a family of four composed of a couple and two children aged between two and five would pay $482.40 per month for food using the thrifty method and $930.70 per month using the liberal method; and

Whereas, If the language changing the minimum grant from $10 to 10% of the thrifty food plan were to apply to the family listed above they would receive $48.24 as the minimum food stamp grant instead of the $10 minimum; and

Whereas, In FY2007, 26,466,181 people participated in the food stamp program according to the United States Department of Agriculture; and

Whereas, According to the New York State Office of Temporary Disability Assistance, in October 2007 recipients of food stamps numbered 1,825,759 million in New York State; and

Whereas, At the local level, according to the Human Resources Administration, in October 2007 there were 1,116,538 New York City residents receiving food stamps; and

Whereas, A New York Times article titled “Housing Takes Bigger Bite of New Yorkers’ Incomes, Census Data Shows,” states that many New Yorkers are stretching their pocketbooks as residents see more of their income go to their rents and mortgages; and

Whereas, The article further illustrates that New Yorkers are left with little money to purchase food, which is also expensive in New York City; and

Whereas, New York City is often challenged with increasing awareness and access to working families who may not be aware of their eligibility to receive Food Stamps; and

Whereas, Providing an increase to the minimum food stamp benefit would alleviate the financial stress of New Yorkers and allow them to have more resources to purchase food; and

Whereas, Proposed H.R. 2419 was passed by the House on July 27, 2007 and was passed with amendments in the Senate on December 14, 2007, and accordingly both houses must resolve their differences by calling a conference before sending it back to both houses for final passage before it is sent to the president for signature; now therefore, be it

Resolved, The Council of the City of New York calls upon Congress to pass H.R. 2419, the Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007, which will increase the minimum food stamp grant and the president to sign it into law.

MBT

LS# 4505

1/24/08

11:04am

3 pages