ACTION ALERT: Senate Farm Bill S-954: AMENDMENT NO. 1056

5-23-2013 Washington DC:

In the US Senate there is a bill titled "Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2013 (S-954)" introduced by Sen Stabenow, Debbie [MI] (introduced 5/14/2013). This bill has several related bills which it appears (portions of them) may also be included in the FINAL S-954. That will make very difficult to follow. But as of right now there is one Amendment, introduced by a Louisiana Senator Vitter, and passed by the Senate, that is expected to be in the final S-954 bill.

There have been at least 150 amendments so far, but the one we are concerned with is: 137. S.AMDT.1056 to S.954 To end food stamp eligibility for convicted violent rapists, pedophiles, and murderers. Sponsor: Sen Vitter, David [LA] (introduced 5/21/2013 Cosponsors (None) (Vitter's Video explaining his TWO amendments. re: Sex offenders begins at 7:26) Latest Major Action: 5/22/2013 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 1056 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

We strongly suggest that everyone contact both their Senators and Representatives in Washington DC, and ask them to vote against this amendment or ELIMINATE it, when the bill comes to them! Today many folks may not need food stamps, but there are those who do, esp. the elderly on the registry, please help support them.

The details of the Amendment verbatim from the Congressional record follow:

Verbatim: AMENDMENT NO. 1056
(Purpose: To end food stamp eligibility for convicted violent rapists, pedophiles, and murderers)    At the end of subtitle A of title IV, insert the following:
   SEC. 4019. ELIGIBILITY DISQUALIFICATIONS FOR CERTAIN CONVICTED FELONS.
    Section 6 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015) (as amended by section 4004 [pertains to lottery winnings]) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(s) Disqualification for Certain Convicted Felons.--

    ``(1) IN GENERAL.- -An individual shall not be eligible for benefits under this Act if the individual is convicted of--
    ``(A) aggravated sexual abuse under section 2241 of title 18, United States Code;
    ``(B) murder under section 1111 of title 18, United States Code;
    ``(C) an offense under chapter 110 of title 18, United States Code;
    ``(D) a Federal or State offense involving sexual assault, as defined in 40002(a) of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 13925(a)); or
    ``(E) an offense under State law determined by the Attorney General to be substantially similar to an offense described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C).

    ``(2) EFFECTS ON ASSISTANCE AND BENEFITS FOR OTHERS.--The amount of benefits otherwise required to be provided to an eligible household under this Act shall be determined by considering the individual to whom paragraph (1) applies not to be a member of such household, except that the income and resources of the individual shall be considered to be income and resources of the household.

UPDATE: Effectively the underlined procedure reduces the amount of food stamps the family is eligible for; the family is penalized by the person with the conviction living with them.

    ``(3) ENFORCEMENT.--Each State shall require each individual applying for benefits under this Act, during the application process, to state, in writing, whether the individual, or any member of the household of the individual, has been convicted of a crime described in paragraph (1).''.

   The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Virginia.

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