This proposed rule would implement provisions of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (FCEA) affecting the eligibility, benefits, certification, and employment and training (E&T) requirements for applicant or participant households in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The rule would amend the SNAP regulations to:
Exclude military combat pay from the income of SNAP households;
raise the minimum standard deduction and the minimum benefit for small households;
eliminate the cap on the deduction for dependent care expenses;
index resource limits to inflation;
exclude retirement and education accounts from countable resources;
permit States to expand the use of simplified reporting; permit States to provide transitional benefits to households leaving State-funded cash assistance programs;
allow States to establish telephonic signature systems;
permit States to use E&T funds to provide post-employment job retention services; and
limit the E&T funding cycle to 15 months.
These provisions are intended to increase SNAP benefit levels for certain participants, reduce barriers to participation, and promote efficiency in the administration of the program.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 5, 2011.
The federal government has issued the first update in five years of its "Dietary Guidelines for Americans" -- but despite broad recognition of the U.S. obesity crisis, the update left the major cornerstones of the guidelines largely intact.
The revision, a joint effort of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), was released today -- although it carries a 2010 date. USDA and HHS last updated the guidelines in 2005. Full Article
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment
on this proposed information collection. This is a new collection for
the contract Evaluation of Reaching the Underserved Elderly and Working
Poor in SNAP.
DATES: Written comments must be received on or before June 21, 2010.
Less than one-third of eligible elderly (age 60 and
older) persons and less than three-fifths of persons in eligible
households with someone working participate in the Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), according to the latest (2007)
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates. These participation
rates suggest that many people in these two groups who may need
nutrition assistance are not receiving SNAP benefits. Without SNAP,
elderly individuals may not be able to meet their nutritional needs or
may forgo medicine for food; working people may not be able to
adequately feed their families, despite their work efforts.
The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), responding to a Congressional
request, has funded six State demonstration projects to increase SNAP
access to eligible households with either persons over age 60 or with
adult members who are working or looking for work. FNS is conducting an
evaluation of the demonstration projects. By evaluating these
demonstrations, FNS will be able to advise Federal policymakers and
State administrators on the best approaches to increasing SNAP access
for these two populations.
The evaluation of the demonstration projects has several
objectives. The evaluation will describe each demonstration project and
the implementation process; assess the impact on SNAP participation in
the target groups, application barriers, client satisfaction, household
benefits, administrative costs, and payment errors; and assess the
sustainability and replicability of each demonstration project. To meet
these objectives, FNS will collect information from the pilot and
comparison sites before, during, and after the intervention. FNS will
collect and analyze administrative data in each demonstration State and
will conduct site visits to each demonstration project and conduct
focus groups with SNAP applicants.
The federal government spends billions of dollars every year on domestic food assistance programs. The U.S. Department of Agriculture administers most of these programs and monitors the prevalence of food insecurity—that is, the percentage of U.S. households that were unable to afford enough food sometime during the year. Other federal agencies also fund food assistance programs; however, comprehensive and consolidated information on the multiple programs is not readily available. Congress asked GAO to examine: 1) the prevalence of food insecurity in the United States, 2) spending on food assistance programs, 3) what is known about the effectiveness of these programs in meeting program goals, and 4) the implications of providing food assistance through multiple programs and agencies. GAO’s steps included analyzing food security and program spending data, analyzing studies on program effectiveness, analyzing relevant federal laws and regulations, conducting site visits, and interviewing relevant experts and officials.
What GAO Recommends
We recommend that the Secretary of Agriculture identify and develop methods for addressing potential inefficiencies and reducing unnecessary overlap among smaller programs while ensuring access to the programs for those who are eligible. USDA agreed to consider the value of examining potential inefficiencies and overlap among smaller programs. Read/Download Report
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) will invest in pilot projects to increase access and participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly the Food Stamp Program, among low-income seniors. Award grants, totaling approximately $8 million, will allow State agencies to pursue innovative outreach and delivery pilot projects. Interested State agencies may obtain grant applications at http://www.grants.gov or http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap
USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is encouraging State agencies to submit grant applications for programs designed to boost SNAP participation among Medicare's Extra Help population. Extra Help, also called Low Income Subsidy, is a program to help low-income individuals or couples with limited resources pay for their Medicare prescription drug plan costs. Under a new law, data from these applications is sent to State Medicaid agencies to enroll people in Medicare Savings Programs. FNS will provide funding to encourage the Extra Help population to participate in SNAP by using State Medicaid agency data from Medicare Savings Programs. FNS invites State agencies to submit applications that will implement outreach efforts, simplify eligibility, or standardize benefits for this population.
The deadline to submit grant proposal applications is June 30, 2010.
Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and
Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack, the co-chairs of the Obama
Administration's Food Safety Working Group, unveiled a new consumer Web
site today at www.foodsafety.gov. The site is designed to help
consumers and families get all the latest information on food safety and
food recalls in one convenient place.
The new site will feature information from all the agencies across the
federal government that deal with critical food and food safety
information, including preventive tips about how to handle food safely,
alerts on life-saving food recalls, and the latest news from the key
agencies.
Consumers can sign up in one easy place to receive email and RSS alerts
on recalled or potentially unsafe food and hear from the top scientific
experts across the government on food safety. Later phases of the site
to be launched will include recall feeds for texting and mobile phones.
The site will also feature a foodsafety.gov widget that the public and
the media are encouraged to download and promote on their Web sites and
social networking sites. The widget will instantly update viewers with
the latest food safety recalls and will be a valuable public health and
safety tool.
Leaders from HHS and USDA praised the new site and said it would be a
valuable tool in their efforts to keep our food supply safe and
consumers healthy.
"The highest mission of any government is keeping its citizens safe. In
this administration, we see public health as an essential part of that
mission and this new website as an essential way we will can help keep
people safe from unhealthy food and food handling practices and
up-to-date on critical food recalls," Secretary Sebelius said.
"Consumers no longer will have to search around in different places
trying to figure out which agency manages which food product. All the
information that they will need will be one easy place at
foodsafety.gov."
"Protecting the health and well-being of the American people is a
fundamental responsibility of the federal government. Our new and
innovative approach to connecting consumers to food safety information
in an easy and timely manner is a critical improvement in this effort,"
said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.
"This site focuses on prevention by highlighting the steps both
businesses and consumers can take to avoid illness," said Food and Drug
(FDA) Commissioner Margaret Hamburg. "It also will be a clearinghouse
for information on the latest FDA rules and guidance."
"Health departments and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) rely on information from many places, including consumers, when it
comes to tracking food-borne illnesses across the country and the
world," said CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden. "With this new Web site,
consumers will quickly know who to contact if they believe they became
ill from eating a certain food. Those reports of illness can help us
identify potential outbreaks sooner and strengthen our efforts to
protect Americans from unsafe food and food-borne illness."
"Protecting the American people from food-borne illness is a critical
mission of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Our work is designed to
prevent outbreaks of food borne illness from occurring and to react
quickly and decisively to contamination in the food supply," said Jerry
Mande, Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety at USDA. "The new
foodsafety.gov site will provide families with a one-stop online shop
for all the latest information they need to reduce the danger of
food-borne illnesses."
This notice announces the national average value of donated
foods or, where applicable, cash in lieu of donated foods, to be
provided in school year 2010 (July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010) for
each lunch served by schools participating in the National School Lunch
Program (NSLP), and for each lunch and supper served by institutions
participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).
Full Notice
This notice announces the annual adjustments to the national
average payment rates for meals and snacks served in child care
centers, outside-school-hours care centers, at-risk afterschool care
centers, and adult day care centers; the food service payment rates for
meals and snacks served in day care homes; and the administrative
reimbursement rates for sponsoring organizations of day care homes, to
reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index. Further adjustments are
made to these rates to reflect the higher costs of providing meals in
the States of Alaska and Hawaii. The adjustments contained in this
notice are made on an annual basis each July, as required by the laws
and regulations governing the Child and Adult Care Food Program.
Full Notice
The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS) announces the availability of approximately $230,000 in funds for fiscal year (FY) 2009 for cooperative agreements to develop and implement pilot programs aimed at: (1) Preventing and alleviating the problems facing African Americans in rural areas that are involved with real estate with clouded title due to unresolved interests of generations of heirs (otherwise known as ``heir properties''); (2) establishing an outreach/educational program that will assist farmers and homeowners with heir property issues in expanding ownership; and (3) enabling farming heir property owners to develop economically viable agricultural operations and accrue homeownership.
DATES:
Please submit proposals and applications for the initial cooperative agreements no later than 30 days from the date of publication (12/05/2008) in the Federal Register. Late applications will not be eligible for FY 2009 funding.
The Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services (a) provide notice of the first meeting of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee and (b) solicit written comments pertinent to review of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
The first Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee meeting will be held on October 30 and 31, 2008, from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. E.S.T. on both days.
Written comments on the Guidelines received by October 24, 2008 will be ensured transmission to the Committee prior to this meeting. Written comments will, however, be accepted throughout the Committee's deliberations.
This final rule revises and clarifies requirements for the management, distribution, and use of donated foods in the National School Lunch Program and other child nutrition programs, in the Nutrition Services Incentive Program, and by charitable institutions. In response to an audit by the USDA Office of Inspector General, the rule establishes specific requirements to ensure that recipient agencies in child nutrition programs receive the benefit and value of all donated foods received and provided to food service management companies to conduct the food service. The rule also incorporates legislative changes affecting the distribution of donated foods in the Nutrition Services Incentive Program, and reduces reporting and administrative requirements for donated foods provided to charitable institutions. Lastly, the rule restructures and revises regulatory provisions in a plain language format to make them easier to read and understand.
DATES:
Effective Date: This final rule is effective November 6, 2008.
Implementation Date: State agencies and recipient agencies are required to implement the provisions of this final rule by November 6, 2008, except for the new contract requirements in Sec. Sec. 250.50 to 250.54. State agencies and recipient agencies must implement those requirements according to the implementation schedule in section II.I of the preamble of this rule.
SUMMARY: This notice announces the national average value of donated foods or, where applicable, cash in lieu of donated foods, to be provided in school year 2009 (July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009) for each lunch served by schools participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), and for each lunch and supper served by institutions participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).DATES: The rate in this notice is effective July 1, 2008.
SUMMARY: This notice announces the annual adjustments to the national average payment rates for meals and snacks served in child care centers, outside-school-hours care centers, at-risk afterschool care centers, and adult day care centers; the food service payment rates for meals and snacks served in day care homes; and the administrative reimbursement rates for sponsoring organizations of day care homes, to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index. Further adjustments are made to these rates to reflect the higher costs of providing meals in the States of Alaska and Hawaii. The adjustments contained in this notice are made on an annual basis each July, as required by the laws and regulations governing the Child and Adult Care Food Program.DATES: These rates are effective from July 1, 2008, through June 30, 2009.
'Old Order' Mennonites and Amish Who Shun Insurance Face Rising Bills. Should Hospitals Cut Them a Break?
By GEETA ANAND
Wall Street Journal Online June 28, 2008; Page A1
Old Order Amish and Mennonite farmers here suffer from epidemic proportions of certain deadly genetic diseases. As they seek life-saving treatments, the uninsured in these Pennsylvania communities are struggling with escalating costs of care at nonprofit hospitals.
Complicating matters is that many of these farmers won't buy health insurance: They believe it is the religious duty of their communities to provide for one another when sick. They don't pay Social Security taxes and reject Medicaid or Medicare benefits, as well as farm subsidies.
Housing Preservation Grants
AGENCY: Rural Housing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Direct final rule.
SUMMARY: The Rural Housing Service (RHS), hereafter referred to as U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development is amending its regulations for the Housing Preservation Grants Program to include faith-based and community organizations. Faith-based and community organizations receiving Housing Preservation Grants (HPG) Program funding for the purpose of repairing and rehabilitating housing will operate within the guidance of the 7 CFR 1944, subpart N, as well as, comply with the terms specified in the HPG grant agreement. The intended effect is to improve the delivery and operation of the HPG Program.
Title: Food Stamp Program Pre-Screening Tool.
OMB Number: 0584-0519.
Expiration Date: August 31, 2008.
Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
Abstract: In June 2003, the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) deployed an interactive Web-based food stamp pre-screening tool that can be utilized by the general public to determine potential Food Stamp Program eligibility. A previous notice was published in the Federal Register on May 31, 2005 at 70 FR 30922 (2005). The pre-screening tool helps the users determine their eligibility for food stamps. Once the user enters household size, income, expenses and resource information, the tool will calculate and provide the user with an estimated range of benefits that the household may be eligible to receive. Since food stamp eligibility and benefit amount may vary by location, FNS makes it clear that the tool is only an estimator, and the household will need to contact the local agency to determine actual eligibility and the appropriate benefit amount.
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