RadioOnFire.com - The Trump administration has proposed to reform the country's food stamp program. The revision will take nearly 50% of poverty-stricken Americans' cash benefits and replace it what a box of food that the government will deliver directly to their homes. Budget Director Mick Mulvaney described the USDA America's Harvest Box as a "Blue Apron for food stamp recipients."
The proposal will affect households that receive a minimum of $90 per month in cash benefits, according to CNN Money. That number translates to approximately 38 million people. Instead of receiving a majority of their food stamp cash, households would be shipped a box of food -- canned meat, poultry or fish, canned fruits and veggies, juice, grains, boxed milk -- that is described as nutritious, 100% grown and produced in the U.S.
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said, the "USDA America's Harvest Box is a bold, innovative approach to providing nutritious food to people who need assistance feeding themselves and their families -- and all of it is homegrown by American farmers and producers."
His statement continued, "It maintains the same level of food value as SNAP [Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program] participants currently receive, provides states flexibility in administering the program, and is responsible to the taxpayers."
Many consumer advocates are questioning the validity of the government's claim that it will save $130 billion over a ten year period on the new program. There is concern that families will not have a choice in what they are offered to eat. "It's a risky scheme that threatens families' ability to put food on the table," said Stacy Dean, Vice President for Food Assistance Policy at the left-leaning Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
Source: money.cnn.com
No comments:
Post a Comment