Working families and elderly have difficulty accessing the food they need. Secure access to nutrition improves health, education, and labor outcomes. Undernourished children score lower on tests, have more disciplinary difficulties, and face increased health risks.
Hunger diminishes adults' health and concentration as well.
Decades ago the Food Stamp Program was constructed as the nation's primary hunger safety net. It has weakened over the years. This bill responds. Food stamp eligibility was based upon need alone for over 30 years, but in 1996, the welfare reform law began disqualifying people based only on immigration status. This part of welfare reform was partially repealed in 1998.