154 
‘‘(i) record for future reference the 
household member’s verbal assent and the 
information to which assent was given; 
‘‘(ii) 
include 
effective 
safeguards 
against impersonation, identity theft, or in-
vasions of privacy; 
‘‘(iii) not deny or interfere with the 
right of the household to apply in writing; 
‘‘(iv) promptly send the household 
member a written copy of the signed appli-
cation, with instructions on a simple proce-
dure for correcting any errors or omis-
sions; 
‘‘(v) comply with paragraph (1)(B); 
‘‘(vi) satisfy all requirements for a 
signature on an application under this Act 
and other laws applicable to the food and 
nutrition assistance program, with the date 
on which the household member provides 
verbal assent effective as the date of appli-
cation for all purposes; and 
‘‘(vii) comply with such other stand-
ards as the Secretary may establish.’’. 
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SEC. 933. REAUTHORIZATION OF FOOD STAMP PROGRAM 
AND FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM ON IN-
DIAN RESERVATIONS. 
(a) FOOD STAMP EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING.— 
Section 16(h)(1) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
2025(h)(1)) is amended 
(1) in subparagraph (A)(vi)(II) by striking 
‘‘2002 through 2007’’ and inserting ‘‘2008 through 
2012’’; and 
(2) in subparagraph (E)(i) by striking ‘‘2002 
through 2007’’ and inserting ‘‘2008 through 2012’’. 
(b) REDUCTIONS IN PAYMENTS FOR ADMINISTRA-
TIVE COSTS.—Section 16(k)(3) of the Food Stamp Act 
of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2025(k)(3)) is amended— 
(1) in the first sentence of subparagraph (A), 
by striking ‘‘2007’’ and inserting ‘‘2012’’; and 
(2) in subparagraph (B)(ii) by striking ‘‘2007’’ 
and inserting ‘‘2012’’. 
(c) CASH
PAYMENT
PILOT
PROJECTS.—Section 
17(b)(1)(B)(vi) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
2026(b)(1)(B(vi)) is amended by striking ‘‘2007’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2012’’. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 
18(a)(1) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
2027(a)(1)) is amended in the first sentence by striking 
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156 
‘‘2003 through 2007’’ and inserting ‘‘2008 through 
2012’’. 
(e) CONSOLIDATED BLOCK GRANTS FOR PUERTO 
RICO AND AMERICAN SAMOA.—Section 19(a)(2) of the 
Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2028(a)(2)) is amend-
ed in subparagraph (A)(ii) by striking ‘‘2007’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘2012’’. 
(f) COMMODITY DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM.—Section 
4(a) of the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 
1973 (7 U.S.C. 612c note) is amended in the first sen-
tence by striking ‘‘2007’’ and inserting ‘‘2012’’. 
SEC. 934. ACCESS TO BENEFITS. 
Section 7 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
2016) is amended by inserting at the end the following: 
‘‘(k) No State agency shall establish any additional 
requirements or conditions on households to receive bene-
fits, other than those specified in this section.’’. 
SEC. 935. OUTREACH GRANTS. 
Section 11(t)(1) of the Food Stamp Act of 2007 (7 
U.S.C. 2020(t)(1)) is amended by striking ‘‘For each of 
fiscal years’’ and all that follows through $5,000,000, and 
inserting ‘‘For each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012, 
the Secretary shall use not more than $15,000,000’’. 
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157 
SEC. 936. IMPROVING PROGRAM OPERATIONS AND PRO-
GRAM EFFECTIVENESS. 
Section 17 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7.U.S.C. 
2026) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(k) RESEARCH TO IMPROVE PROGRAM OPERATION 
EFFECTIVENESS.— 
‘‘(1) For each of fiscal years 2008 through 
2010, the Secretary shall use no less than 
$9,000,000 of funds made available under Section 
18(a)(1) to conduct research and demonstration 
projects in support of the Food Stamp Act. 
‘‘(2) Of the funds provided in paragraph (1), no 
less than $4,000,000 in each fiscal year shall be 
used to conduct research and studies on how to im-
prove the effectiveness of food stamp program oper-
ations by increasing access for eligible households, 
reducing State agency and household administrative 
burdens, and improving program integrity. Such 
studies may evaluate the most effective— 
‘‘(A) use of verification; 
‘‘(B) telephonic and internet applications; 
‘‘(C) call centers; 
‘‘(D) efforts to retain eligible households at 
recertification; and 
‘‘(E) methods of providing food stamps to 
working households, seniors, legal immigrants, 
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158 
and households with limited English proficient 
households, particularly in areas and States 
that have experienced rapid growth in their 
non-English speaking populations.’’. 
SEC. 
937. 
IMPROVING 
PERFORMANCE 
BONUSES 
FOR 
STATES. 
Section 16(d)(2)(B)(ii) of the Food Stamp Act of 
1977 (7 U.S.C. 2025(d)) is amended by— 
(1) inserting ‘‘through fiscal year 2007’’ after 
‘‘each fiscal year’’; and 
(2) inserting at the end ‘‘For each of fiscal 
years 2008 and thereafter, $68,000,000 shall be 
available under this clause for performance bonus 
payments.’’. 
SEC. 938. SUPPORTING STATE EFFORTS DURING NATURAL 
DISASTERS. 
Section 5(h) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 
U.S.C. 2014(h)) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(4) In lieu of the payments section 16(a) 
would otherwise require, the Secretary shall pay 
each State agency an amount equal to 90 per cen-
tum of administrative costs allowable under section 
16(a) for costs related to planning and operating 
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159 
disaster food stamp programs under this sub-
section.’’. 
SEC. 939. ADDRESSING HUNGER IN THE COMMONWEALTH 
OF PUERTO RICO. 
Section 19(a)(2)(A) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 
(7 U.S.C. 2028(a)(2)(A)) is amended by— 
(1) in clause (i) by striking ‘‘2003, $1,401,000’’ 
and inserting ‘‘2008, $1,761,000’’; and 
(2) in clause (ii) by striking ‘‘2004’’ and all 
that follows through ‘‘preceding fiscal year.’’ and in-
serting the following: 
‘‘2009 through 2012, the amount specified 
in clause (i), as adjusted by the sum of the 
percentage by which the thrifty food plan 
has been adjusted under section 3(o)(4) 
between June 30, 2007 and June 30 of the 
immediately preceding fiscal year and the 
percentage by which the Census Bureau 
estimates that the total population of the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico has grown 
for the same period.’’. 
SEC. 940. STUDY ON COMPARABLE ACCESS TO FOOD STAMP 
BENEFITS FOR PUERTO RICO. 
Section 19 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
2028) is amended by inserting at the end the following: 
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160 
‘‘(e) The Secretary shall conduct a study of the feasi-
bility and effects of defining the Commonwealth of Puerto 
Rico to be a State under section 3(m), in lieu of the block 
grant under this section. The study shall include— 
‘‘(1) an assessment of the administrative, finan-
cial management, and other changes that would be 
required by the Commonwealth to establish a com-
parable Food Stamp program; 
‘‘(2) a discussion of the appropriate program 
rules under the other sections of the Act, such as 
benefit levels under section 3(o), income eligibility 
standards under section 5(c), and deduction levels 
under section 5(e), for the Commonwealth to estab-
lish a comparable Food Stamp program; 
‘‘(3) an estimate of the impact on Federal and 
Commonwealth benefit and administrative costs; 
‘‘(4) an estimate of the impact of the Food 
Stamp program on hunger and food insecurity 
among low-income Puerto Ricans, and 
‘‘(5) such other findings as the Secretary deems 
appropriate.’’. 
SEC. 941. EXPANDING THE USE OF FOOD STAMPS AT FARM-
ERS’ MARKETS. 
Section 25 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
2034) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
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161 
‘‘(i) GRANTS TO EXPAND THE NUMBER OF FARM-
ERS’ MARKETS THAT ACCEPT FOOD STAMP BENEFITS.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—For each of fiscal years 
2008 through 2010, the Secretary shall use not 
more than $5,000,000 of funds made available 
under section 18(a)(1) to make grants to pay 100 
percent of the costs of eligible entities approved by 
the Secretary to carry out projects to expand the 
number of farmers’ markets that accept food stamp 
benefits by— 
‘‘(A) providing equipment and training 
necessary for markets to accept food stamp 
benefits; 
‘‘(B) educating and providing technical as-
sistance to farmers and farmers’ market opera-
tors about the process and benefits of accepting 
food stamp benefits; or 
‘‘(C) other activities deemed appropriate 
by the Secretary. 
‘‘(2) LIMITATION.—A grant made under this 
subsection shall not be made for the cost of the on- 
going cost of carrying out any project. 
‘‘(3) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—To be eligible to re-
ceive a grant under this subsection, an entity shall 
be— 
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162 
‘‘(A) a State agency administering the 
Food Stamp Program; 
‘‘(B) a State or local government; or 
‘‘(C) a private nonprofit entity that coordi-
nates farmers markets in or within a State and 
that operates in cooperation with State or local 
government. 
‘‘(4) SELECTION OF ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—The 
Secretary— 
‘‘(A) shall develop criteria for the selection 
of eligible entities to receive grants under this 
subsection; and 
‘‘(B) may give preference to any eligible 
entity that consists of a partnership between a 
government entity and a non-governmental enti-
ty.’’. 
Subtitle D—Supporting the Emer-
gency Food Bank Network and 
Other Community Partners 
SEC. 951. COMMODITIES FOR THE EMERGENCY FOOD AS-
SISTANCE PROGRAM. 
Section 27(a) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 
U.S.C. 2036(a)) is amended— 
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163 
(1) by striking ‘‘(a) PURCHASE OF COMMOD-
ITIES.—’’ and all that follows through ‘‘through 
2007’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(a) PURCHASE OF COMMODITIES.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—As provided in paragraph 
(2), for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘$140,000,000 of’’; and 
(3) by inserting at the end: 
‘‘(2) AMOUNTS.—The following amounts are 
made available to carry out this subsection: 
‘‘(A) for fiscal year 2008, $250,000,000; 
and 
‘‘(B) for each of fiscal years 2009 through 
2012, the dollar amount of commodities avail-
able in the immediately preceding fiscal year 
adjusted by the percentage by which the thrifty 
food plan has been adjusted under section 
3(o)(4) between June 30, 2007 and June 30 of 
the immediately preceding fiscal year.’’. 
SEC. 952. ACCOUNTABLE PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION. 
(a) PROHIBITION.—Section 11(e)(6)(B) of the Food 
and Nutrition Assistance Act of 2007 (7 U.S.C. 
2020(e)(6)(B)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(B) only State employees employed in ac-
cordance with the current standards for a Merit 
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164 
System of Personnel Administration, or any 
standards later prescribed by the Office of Per-
sonnel Management pursuant to section 208 of 
the Intergovernmental Personnel Act of 1970 
(42 U.S.C. 4728) modifying or superseding 
such standards relating to the establishment 
and maintenance of personnel standards on a 
merit basis, shall— 
‘‘(i) represent the State agency in any 
communications with a prospective appli-
cant, applicant, or recipient household; 
‘‘(ii) participate in making any deter-
minations relating to a household‘s sub-
stantive or procedural compliance with the 
requirements of this Act or implementing 
regulations, including the adequacy of the 
household’s application or of verification or 
other information the household has sub-
mitted in support of that application; or 
‘‘(iii) perform any other acts or par-
ticipate in making any other determina-
tions required under this subsection;’’. 
(b) WAIVERS.—Section 17(b)(1)(B)(iv)(III)(ff) of the 
Food and Nutrition Assistance Act of 2007 (7 U.S.C. 
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2026(b)(1)(B)(iv)(III)(ff)) is amended in inserting ‘‘or 
11(e)(6)(B)’’ before the semicolon. 
(c) PROJECTS.—Section 26(f)(3)(E) of the Food and 
Nutrition 
Assistance 
Act 
of 
2007 
(7 
U.S.C. 
2035(f)(3)(E)) is amended by inserting ‘‘(6)(B)’’ after 
‘‘paragraphs’’. 
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