The American Public Human Services Association Applauds Senate Passage of the Farm Bill

5/9/2002

From: Carole Zimmerman of American Public Human Services Association, 202-682-0100, ext. 288

WASHINGTON, May 9 -- The American Public Human Services Association (APHSA) today applauds the Senate for passage of the Farm Bill by a vote of 64 to 35 on May 8. The House approved the measure (H.R. 2646) on May 2 by 280-141. The President has said he will sign the bill.

"The bill is a major victory for states and program advocates who successfully joined together to back the many food stamp provisions that simplify administration and extend benefits," said Jerry Friedman, APHSA Executive Director. "The partnership with Food Research and Action Center and America's Second Harvest has been an effective force leading to passage of the bill."

APHSA is pleased that:

-- The bill contains many significant simplification provisions supported by the states. These provisions will go far toward lightening the administrative load on states and making the program more understandable and accessible.

-- The bill's important improvements in quality control, plus its provisions for a bonus incentive system, will begin to move the program's measurement system away from the present exclusive and detailed focus on payment accuracy.

-- The bill's benefit changes, such as its straightforward policy toward legal immigrants and its new supports for working families, will help secure benefits for vulnerable groups and cut red tape in the eligibility determination process.

The Farm Bill contains nearly all the significant food stamp simplification and benefit provisions in APHSA's 2001 policy document, Crossroads - New Directions in Social Policy. Among these are the following:

-- simplified and conformed definitions of income and resources; -- simplified determinations of utility costs, housing costs, and deductions; -- a state option to reduce reporting requirements; -- elimination of the cost neutrality requirement for electronic benefit transfer systems; -- a five-month transitional benefit for those leaving TANF; -- a more flexible employment and training program; -- a straightforward provision for restoring eligibility to legal immigrants, covering those who have lived in the United States for five years or more, and children, refugees and the disabled; and -- significant improvements in the quality control system, including a new outcome-based bonus incentive system with payments for high performance in reducing errors and improving service delivery.

APHSA is extremely pleased that the farm bill has achieved many of the goals in Crossroads. It represents a milestone in efforts to strengthen this vital safety net program and is a testament to persistent and effective efforts by states to educate and persuade national policymakers of the necessity of these reforms. We look forward to the substantial benefits this legislation should provide to both administrators and recipients.

The American Public Human Services Association, a bipartisan, nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC, is the nation's principal association of state and local government human services professionals.