Hunger and the Federal Budget
The U.S. Senate passed a fiscal year 2014 budget resolution on March 23. 2013. After an all-night vote-a-rama on more than 70 amendments, senators voted 50-49 in favor of the budget drafted by Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), chair of the Senate Budget Committee.
On March 21, the House of Representatives passed its own FY14 budget resolution by a vote of 221-207. The House budget is authored by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI.), chair of the House Budget Committee.
What the House Budget Means for FoodShare/SNAP:
The House Budget cuts SNAP by $135 Billion dollars nationwide over the next 10 years. The budget would:
- Turn SNAP into a block grant program, which limits the program responding in times of need
- Eliminate categorical eligibility and “heat and eat” policies –both actions impact Wisconsin
- Cut as many as 8-9 million people from the program.
- Restores a cut to monthly Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamps) benefits made in 2010 and scheduled to take place this November.
- Supports continued implementation of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act.
- It includes a request for $7,141,625,000 for WIC, in which there is a $60 million set aside request for breastfeeding peer counselors, $30 million for MIS/EBT projects, and $1 million to support program integrity efforts.
- FRAC analysis
What’s next?
Budget resolutions do not become final until the House and Senate agree to identical versions.
May-September: Spending bills need a series of approvals.
- Subcommittees pass spending bills for their areas.
- The House and Senate appropriations committees pass their subcommittees' bills.
- The full House and Senate pass appropriations committee bills.
- Finally, the House and Senate negotiate and approve a final appropriations bill.
- See what's happening in the FARM BILL
Before October 1 (the first day of the new fiscal year):
- The president signs the appropriations bills into law.
