I
105TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 4366
To require the Secretary of Agriculture to enter into an agreement with
the Commissioner of Social Security to take certain actions ensure that
food stamp benefits are not provided for deceased individuals; and to
amend the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to require State agencies to verify
that such benefits are not provided for such individuals.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JULY 31, 1998
Mr. GOODLATTE introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and
Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in
each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdic-
tion of the committee concerned
A BILL
To require the Secretary of Agriculture to enter into an
agreement with the Commissioner of Social Security to
take certain actions ensure that food stamp benefits are
not provided for deceased individuals; and to amend the
Food Stamp Act of 1977 to require State agencies to
verify that such benefits are not provided for such indi-
viduals.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Food Stamp Verifica-
tion Act of 1998’’.
SEC. 2. AGREEMENT TO BE ENTERED INTO BY THE SEC-
RETARY OF AGRICULTURE.
The Secretary of Agriculture (in this section referred
to as the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall enter into an agreement with
the Commissioner of Social Security (in this section re-
ferred to as the ‘‘Commissioner’’) that provides that the
Commissioner shall establish a cooperative arrangement
that meets the requirements of section 205(r)(3)(A) of the
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 405(r)(3)(A)), with each
State agency (as defined in section 3(n) of the Food
Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2012(n))) that administers
the food stamp program (as defined in section 3(h) of the
Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2012(h))) under
which—
(1) the State agency shall provide information
to the Commissioner, in such form and manner as
the Commissioner determines necessary, regarding
individuals receiving benefits under the food stamp
program; and
(2) the Commissioner shall compare informa-
tion received under section 205(r)(1) of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 405(r)(1)) with information
obtained under paragraph (1) and shall notify the
State agency of the individuals who are deceased.
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days, 1 year, and
18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Secretary of Agriculture shall submit to—
(1) the Committee on Agriculture of the House
of Representatives;
(2) the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition,
and Forestry of the Senate;
(3) the Committee on Ways and Means of the
House of Representatives;
(4) the Committee on Finance of the Senate;
and
(5) the Secretary of the Treasury;
a report regarding the progress and effectiveness, during
the respective period for which such report is submitted,
of the cooperative arrangements established under sub-
section (a) with State agencies.
SEC. 
3. 
PROVISION 
OF 
INFORMATION 
TO 
ENSURE
NONISSUANCE OF FOOD STAMP COUPONS
FOR DECEASED INDIVIDUALS.
Section 11(e)(20) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7
U.S.C. 2020(e)(20)) is amended—
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘and’’ at
the end;
(2) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period
at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(C) to provide such information to the
Commissioner of Social Security as the Com-
missioner determines is necessary to enable the
Commissioner to use the information provided
under the arrangement established under sec-
tion 2 of the Food Stamp Verification Act of
1998 to verify and otherwise ensure that cou-
pons are not issued for deceased individuals;’’.
SEC. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Act and the amendments made by this Act take
effect 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
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