Federal Farm Bill:
Strengthening of Federal Nutrition Programs

<ul> <li>Work on the Farm Bill, which includes federal nutrition programs, was completed in May of 2008. It passed by sufficient margins in both houses so as to survive a planned veto by the President.</li>

<li>The bill increases public nutrition programs by $10.3 billion over ten years, including $7.9 billion for food stamps, $1.25 billion for donations to food banks through The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and $1.05 billion for a fresh fruit and vegetable school-snack program.</li>

<li>Ten million people are to see larger food stamp benefits. The legislation increases the standard deduction for households of less than four people to $144, increases the minimum monthly benefit to $14, and indexes them for inflation. The asset limits to qualify for food stamps is also adjusted. Larger deductions are now allowed for child care costs. The food stamp program will now be called the "Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program."</li> </ul>