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SNAP subject of subcommittee hearing
Published Thursday, July 29, 2010 at 07:44 AM
The House Agriculture Committee's Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition and Forestry, held a hearing Wednesday to review quality control systems in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The Subcommittee heard testimony from government officials and advocacy and industry groups about efforts to reduce the error rate in SNAP and to combat fraud and abuse in the system.

Representative Joe Baca of California is Chairman of the subcommittee. Baca said - it is essential that Congress ensures our federal nutrition programs serve as good stewards of taxpayer dollars. The hearing provided an opportunity to examine ways to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the SNAP program. With the program currently under great strain, serving a record 40 million Americans a month, Baca said - this review is more critical now than ever before.

Subcommittee Ranking Member Jeff Fortenberry of Nebraska said - like all federal programs funded by American taxpayers, we must ensure its sound program eligibility standards and improve efficiencies in its administration. The 2008 Farm Bill made substantial improvements to SNAP by increasing program benefits and clarifying eligibility standards. The Farm Bill also increased the penalty the U.S. Department of Agriculture can levy on fraudulent retailers.

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