IV 
112TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 564 
Recognizing the critical importance of the supplemental nutrition assistance 
program (SNAP), formerly called the food stamp program. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 27, 2012 
Ms. SCHAKOWSKY (for herself, Mr. BACA, Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania, Mrs. 
CHRISTENSEN, Mr. CICILLINE, Mr. CLARKE of Michigan, Mr. CLEAVER, 
Mr. CONYERS, Mr. COURTNEY, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, Ms. DELAURO, Mr. 
ELLISON, Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts, Ms. FUDGE, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. 
GUTIERREZ, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, Mr. HOLT, Mr. HONDA, Ms. 
JACKSON LEE of Texas, Ms. KAPTUR, Mr. KUCINICH, Ms. LEE of Cali-
fornia, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, Mr. MCGOVERN, Ms. MOORE, Ms. NOR-
TON, Ms. RICHARDSON, Mr. SABLAN, Mr. SERRANO, Ms. SPEIER, Ms. 
WOOLSEY, and Mr. WELCH) submitted the following resolution; which 
was referred to the Committee on Agriculture 
RESOLUTION 
Recognizing the critical importance of the supplemental nu-
trition assistance program (SNAP), formerly called the 
food stamp program. 
Whereas the supplemental nutrition assistance program 
(SNAP) provides essential nutrition for 46 million Ameri-
cans; 
Whereas research has found that SNAP benefits increase a 
household’s overall dietary quality, as measured by the 
USDA Healthy Eating Index; 
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•HRES 564 IH 
Whereas to qualify for SNAP assistance, a household must 
typically have an annual income that does not exceed 130 
percent of the Federal poverty line, for example approxi-
mately $24,000 for a household of 3; 
Whereas SNAP participants include the elderly, the disabled, 
children, 1-parent households, 2-parent households, low- 
wage workers, the unemployed, students, soldiers, and 
military families, and white, black, Hispanic, Asian, and 
Native Americans; 
Whereas children make up nearly half of SNAP beneficiaries; 
Whereas SNAP is effective and efficient, as evidenced by the 
facts that every $1 in benefits generates $1.72 in eco-
nomic activity; each $1 billion in SNAP funding supports 
3,300 farm jobs; and the SNAP payment error rate is at 
an all-time low and compares equally or favorably to any 
other Federal program; 
Whereas the Food Stamp Act of 1964, which established per-
manent authority to carry out the assistance program, 
enjoyed bipartisan support; 
Whereas more SNAP participants were added under the pre-
vious administration than have been added under the cur-
rent administration; 
Whereas SNAP benefits can only be used for household foods 
and for seeds or plants that produce food, and may not 
be used to purchase nonfood items; 
Whereas SNAP provides a bridge to low-income families, with 
half of participants no longer relying on the program 
within 9 months of receiving their first benefits; 
Whereas SNAP has not and will not contribute to the Na-
tion’s long-term fiscal problems; 
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•HRES 564 IH 
Whereas nearly half of all SNAP households with children 
have a working adult but, due to low wages, qualify for 
food assistance; 
Whereas SNAP kept more than 4 million Americans out of 
poverty in 2010 and lessened the severity of poverty for 
millions of others; 
Whereas the large SNAP caseload reflects the severe reces-
sion from which we are just beginning to emerge; 
Whereas SNAP participation rates have increased by more 
than 130 percent in the States hit hardest by the reces-
sion, including the States of Nevada, Florida, Utah, and 
Idaho; 
Whereas SNAP’s recent growth is temporary, and the pro-
gram is expected to experience decreased participation 
once our economy is back on track; and 
Whereas every major religion speaks to the importance of 
preventing hunger and suffering: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) recognizes that no ethnic, demographic, reli-
gious, or cultural group has been unaffected by our 
prolonged economic struggles; 
(2) recognizes the significance of the supple-
mental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) to the 
American people; and 
(3) supports adequate funding for SNAP mov-
ing forward as a means of preventing hunger and 
strengthening the Nation. 
Æ 
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