The publication is reproduced in full below:
EQUAL ACCESS TO THE RIGHT NUTRITION FOR MILITARY FAMILIES ACT (EARN
ACT)
______
HON. SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR.
of georgia
in the house of representatives
Thursday, September 23, 2021
Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, today, my colleague, Mr. Fortenberry of Nebraska, and I will introduce the bipartisan Equal Access to the Right Nutrition Act for Military Families--better known as the EARN Act.
The food insecurity rate among active-duty military families is 14 percent higher than the national average of 10.5 percent.
This affects service members from all ranks, especially junior enlisted as well as service members of color.
The EARN Act is an innovative solution to this problem that will increase military family access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program--commonly known as Foods Stamps or SNAP.
It removes variability in state administered SNAP programs by establishing a federally administered SNAP benefit for military families with streamlined national eligibility requirements for military households.
It encourages participation in SNAP by requiring the U.S. Department of Defense to notify qualifying military families of their eligibility and automatically enroll families in the program unless they decide to opt out.
Finally, it eases the transition back to civilian life by establishing a transitional, temporary SNAP benefit for those leaving service.
When a person makes the commitment and sacrifice to serve our country in the military, we must honor this by ensuring that their basic needs are met.
I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill.
____________________
SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 165
The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
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