{ "id": "R43332", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "number": "R43332", "active": true, "source": "EveryCRSReport.com, University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "versions": [ { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 430540, "date": "2014-04-24", "retrieved": "2016-04-06T20:28:26.734409", "title": "SNAP and Related Nutrition Provisions of the 2014 Farm Bill (P.L. 113-79) ", "summary": "After action to reauthorize the 2008 farm bill in both the 112th and 113th Congresses, the Agriculture Act of 2014 (P.L. 113-79; 2014 farm bill) was enacted on February 7, 2014. In addition to farm programs and other agricultural policies, this newest omnibus farm bill reauthorizes the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and other related nutrition programs. Farm bills since 1973 have included reauthorization of the Food Stamp Program (now called SNAP).\nThe enacted 2014 law reconciles differences between the House-passed bill (H.R. 2642, as combined with H.R. 3102, Nutrition Reform and Work Opportunity Act) and the Senate-passed bill (S. 954). The Nutrition Title reauthorizes SNAP and related programs for five years, and CBO estimates that the Nutrition Title will reduce spending by $8.0 billion over 10 years (FY2014-FY2023). The SNAP provisions alone are estimated to reduce spending by slightly more than $8.6 billion over 10 years. Certain other Nutrition provisions are estimated to increase spending, which together result in the total estimated reduction of $8.0 billion. \nFarm bill conferees were faced with significant differences in the SNAP provisions in the Senate- and House-passed bills. Over the 10-year budget window (FY2014-FY2023), CBO estimated that the Senates Nutrition Title would have reduced spending by approximately $4 billion and the Houses Nutrition Title would have reduced spending by approximately $39 billion. The House bill would have reauthorized SNAP and related programs for three years, while the Senate would have reauthorized the programs for five years. \nAlthough the Nutrition Title of the 2014 law contains a number of provisions that change aspects of SNAP and related nutrition programs, conferees largely retained the provisions in the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 and other nutrition program authorizing statutes. The budgetary impact of the 2014 farm bills Nutrition Title is largely the result of changes to SNAP eligibility and benefit calculation rules. The laws treatment of major issues in households eligibility and benefit amounts include the following: \nThe 2014 farm bill amends how Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) payments are treated in the calculation of SNAP benefits. According to information from June 2012, this change to benefit calculation is expected to reduce household benefit amounts in approximately 17 states.\nThe 2014 farm bill disqualifies from SNAP certain ex-offenders who are not complying with the terms of their sentence. This is a narrower disqualification than that proposed in the House and Senate bills. \nThe law includes policies related to the SNAP Employment and Training (E&T) program, including a pilot project authority and related funding ($200 million over FY2014 and FY2015) for states to implement and USDA to evaluate a variety of work programs for SNAP participants. The law includes the House bills provisions that would expand reporting measures for all E&T programs. \nThe law makes no changes to broad-based categorical eligibility. \nThe law does not give states the option to administer drug testing as part of their eligibility determination processes (as had been proposed in the House bill).\nSince SNAP provides benefits redeemable for SNAP-eligible foods at SNAP-eligible retailers, much of SNAP law pertains to retailer authorization and benefit issuance and redemption. The 2014 farm bill includes the changes to retailer and redemption provisions that had been included in both the House and Senate bills. The law now requires stores to stock more fresh foods, requires retailers to pay for their electronic benefit transfer (EBT) machines, and provides additional funding for combatting trafficking (the sale of SNAP benefits). The 2014 farm bill also includes $100 million in mandatory funding (over 10 years) for Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive grants, which will support organizations that offer bonus incentives for SNAP purchases of fruits and vegetables.\nThe law increases funding for the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), the program that provides USDA foods and federal support to emergency feeding organizations (e.g., food banks and food pantries). Taking into account CBOs estimates of inflation, the conference agreement is estimated to provide an additional $205 million for TEFAP over 10 years, $125 million of which is provided in the first five years. \nThe laws Nutrition Title includes many other changes to SNAP and related program policy. These changes include amendments to the nutrition programs operated by tribes and territories, the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), and the distribution of USDA foods to schools. The 2010 child nutrition reauthorization (Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, P.L. 111-296) has already reauthorized WIC and the child nutrition programs through FY2015, but the 2014 farm bill does include related policies, such as farm-to-school efforts.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R43332", "sha1": "9bcc89fefcac5a332937194cff7091334097345c", "filename": "files/20140424_R43332_9bcc89fefcac5a332937194cff7091334097345c.html", "images": null }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R43332", "sha1": "a96af24eabf2295f70075a22a070390dbbc168dc", "filename": "files/20140424_R43332_a96af24eabf2295f70075a22a070390dbbc168dc.pdf", "images": null } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 2651, "name": "Child Well-Being" }, { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4326, "name": "Benefits and Services for Low-Income Households" }, { "source": "IBCList", "id": 641, "name": "Farm Bill and Agricultural Policy" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc272066/", "id": "R43332_2013Dec10", "date": "2013-12-10", "retrieved": "2014-02-03T19:46:03", "title": "Reauthorization of SNAP and Other Nutrition Programs in the Next Farm Bill: Issues for the 113th Congress", "summary": "This report discusses the Nutrition Title (Title IV) of the pending farm bills and elaborates on the most controversial issues and differences between Senate and House proposals. Policies that are not necessarily controversial but are complex are also included in this report.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20131210_R43332_57ffc67921eb574163854e659664c13a1ed54af5.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20131210_R43332_57ffc67921eb574163854e659664c13a1ed54af5.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Nutrition", "name": "Nutrition" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Nutrition policy", "name": "Nutrition policy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Agriculture policies", "name": "Agriculture policies" } ] } ], "topics": [] }