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Federal Lawmakers Hold Oversight Hearings on SNAP & TANF 12/12/2011
This fall, federal law makers held seveal oversight hearings monitored by Western Center advocates. Read transcripts of the hearings and Western Center's submitted testimony.
This fall, federal law makers held two oversight hearings monitored by advocates for the poor. The conversations from these hearings will be important for the reauthorization of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program, known as CalWORKs in California, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known as CalFresh in California. Below are the details about these hearings with links to testimony and reports:
TANF Oversight Hearing
On September 9, 2011, Congressman Geoff Davis (R-KY), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Human Resources of the Committee on Ways and Means, convened a Subcommittee hearing on the reauthorization of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, including how States engage recipients in work activities that move them toward self-sufficiency. TANF was extended by a floor vote in September, but is due up for extension again by December 31, 2011.
Witnesses included Kay E. Brown Director, Education, Workforce, and Income Security, U.S. and LaDonna Pavetti, Ph.D., Vice President for Family Income Support Policy, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP). Their testimonies and hearing transcripts are available online here. Webcast of the hearing can be found online here.
Western Center on Law and Poverty submitted comments, they are available online here.
SNAP Oversight Hearing on Program Integrity
December 1st the House Agriculture Committee's Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, and Credit heard from USDA’s Inspector General (IG) regarding SNAP fraud detection and USDA's information technology. Subcommittee Chairman Representative Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) pressed the IG for greater clarity on the definitions of SNAP program integrity indicators, including the difference between measuring benefits trafficking and measuring SNAP overpayments and underpayments. IG Phyllis Fong reported on ongoing audits of SNAP payments in ten states (AL, FL, KS, LA, MA, MS, MO, NJ, NY and TX). In the two states (FL and KS) for which audits have been completed, the IG estimated the scope of ineligible payments of SNAP benefits as less than one percent. The IG recommends that states make greater use of data available to check for duplicate participation. IG staffers hear from states, however, that lack of sufficient resources undermine states’ ability to take up some IG recommendations for fraud prevention. In November, USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) reminded states about how to make use of data checks to prevent duplicate participation. See November 15th memorandum (pdf).
According to representatives from the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC), who reported on the committee hearing, subcommittee member Representative Jim McGovern (D-MA) articulated his support for efforts to further cut down on improper payments but also urged efforts to ensure needy people get SNAP benefits. He asked the IG to investigate reports about some fake SNAP websites that are cropping up and preying on low-income people.
Western Center's Legislative Advocates over TANF / CalWORKs and SNAP/CalFresh are: Jessica Bartholow (jbartholow@wclp.org) and Michael Herald (mherald@wclp.org)
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