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left-of-center2012

(34,195 posts) Wed Jan 9, 2019, 10:15 AM Jan 2019

USDA Races to Use Budget Authority for Food Stamp Benefits in Shutdown

The Trump administration said it will cover food stamp benefits in February using its authority under a provision of an expired continuing resolution that allows it to obligate federal funds within 30 days of expiration.

That move to use the stopgap measure that expired Dec. 21 would give USDA the $4.8 billion it would need to provide funding if the partial government shutdown continues into next month. This is the first time the department has used the method because of a government shutdown.

Under the SNAP program, USDA provides all funding for monthly benefits while state agencies actually operate the program and distribute benefits. Other key USDA nutrition programs such as the national school lunch and breakfast program will have funds through March 1.

Brandon Lipps, acting deputy undersecretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services said state agencies will use carry-over funds to continue benefits for the Women, Infants and Children supplemental nutrition program for pregnant and post-partum women and children up to the age of five.

https://www.rollcall.com/news/congress/usda-food-stamp-shutdown

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USDA Races to Use Budget Authority for Food Stamp Benefits in Shutdown (Original Post) left-of-center2012 Jan 2019 OP

But, the general plan for the repubs and trump is to destroy food stamps mucifer Jan 2019 #1

The amount of money designated to be set aside for SNAP was signed into law last month BumRushDaShow Jan 2019 #3

Same thing happened in 2013 when they let the Farm Bill expire but BumRushDaShow Jan 2019 #2

mucifer

(23,525 posts)

1. But, the general plan for the repubs and trump is to destroy food stamps

Reply to left-of-center2012 (Original post)

Wed Jan 9, 2019, 10:18 AM

Jan 2019

But, now with dems controlling the house it looks like they won't be able to do that.

BumRushDaShow

(128,811 posts)

3. The amount of money designated to be set aside for SNAP was signed into law last month

Reply to mucifer (Reply #1)

Wed Jan 9, 2019, 10:35 AM

Jan 2019

with passage of the new 2018 Farm Bill, but the problem now is having Congress actually pass the appropriations (which must be done each fiscal year) for Agriculture (which includes USDA) to go along with that agreement/law.

BumRushDaShow

(128,811 posts)

2. Same thing happened in 2013 when they let the Farm Bill expire but

Reply to left-of-center2012 (Original post)

Wed Jan 9, 2019, 10:31 AM

Jan 2019

extended its designated line items through the 2013 fiscal year, after which that expired when the government shut down. At that point, they could only fund things under it up until sometime in January and that was it. They were finally able to agree on and enact a new Farm Bill in early 2014 that ultimately expired at the end of fiscal year 2018 (this past October). But just this past December, they passed a new Farm Bill by veto-proof margins. It was finally signed December 20th and is good until the end of fiscal year 2023.

The amount of authorized funding that is permitted to be dished out towards USDA/SNAP mentioned in the OP is defined by what in this new Farm Bill (Agriculture Improvement Act). The issue obviously being getting the actual appropriations passed to do it.

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