Food Stamp Program
The food stamp program traces its earliest origins back to the food stamp plan, which helped needy families during the Depression era. The modern program began as a pilot program in 1961 and was authorized as a permanent program in the Food Stamp Act of 1964. Expansion of the program occurred most dramatically after 1974 when Congress required all states to offer food stamps to low-income households. Participation generally peaks in periods of high unemployment, inflation, and recession.
The program helps put food on the table for more than 27 million Americans every day. It provides low income households with coupons that can be used like cash at most grocery stores to ensure that they have access to a healthy diet.
In 1996, the Congress passed and the President signed legislation reforming welfare programs. Included in that legislation were changes to both the food stamp and commodity distribution programs. Most notably, these changes included the implementation of an electronic benefit transfer system, the creation of a means for homeless individuals to utilize food coupons, and authorization for the federal government to purchase various commodities for distribution. The present Food Stamp program should be broadened to include a coupon program, similar to the WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program, to encourage participants to purchase local agricultural food products.
The effectiveness in providing a healthy diet for the needy under the food stamp program depends upon improvements in providing food to the needy. The elimination of provisions allowing for the cash-out of food stamps is important to protecting the program from increased fraud and abuse.