Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, February 25, 1995 TAG: 9502280019
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: FROM WIRE SERVICES
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
The decision to preserve food stamps as a federal program comes a day after a House committee voted to repeal several other federal nutrition programs, including school lunches, and return the money to the states in block grants.
The decision to preserve food stamps means food benefits will continue to be available to poor Americans affected by other pieces of the GOP welfare reform plan: the unmarried teen-age mothers who would be denied cash aid and families kicked off welfare after reaching a five-year time limit.
Under the GOP plan, which could go to the House Agriculture Committee for a vote early next month, low-income Americans who meet the eligibility requirements would continue to be guaranteed a monthly allotment of food stamps.
Rep. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, said food stamps would be subject to some type of spending cap.
But, he said Friday, the Republicans agreed that ``there should be some form of federal safety net.'' For families going through the welfare reform process, ``this would be the final safety net.''
Republicans also decided to drop a provision of their welfare reform plan that the White House and congressional Democrats had considered especially objectionable - making teen mothers and their babies permanently ineligible for cash benefits.
The decision to soften the penalties for teen mothers and their children was made during closed-door meetings of Republicans on the House Ways and Means Committee this week, according to Nancy Johnson, R-Conn., a senior member of the panel. ``The great majority [of the members] were uncomfortable with a lifetime ban,'' Johnson said.
by CNB