Schakowsky Lives On Food Stamp Budget

SCHAKOWSKY LIVES ON FOOD STAMP BUDGET

WASHINGTON, DC–Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) joined four of her colleagues in the House to participate in the Food Stamp Challenge. Representatives Jim McGovern (D-MA) and Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO), co-chairs of the Hunger Caucus, created the challenge to raise visibility and understanding around the challenges low-income people face in obtaining a healthy diet under current food stamp benefit levels.

"I'm glad I decided to participate in this challenge. I learned a lot just going to the grocery store. It's not easy to eat on $3 a day. I can only imagine what shopping would have been like with small children, who like all kids want special treats. It's especially expensive to buy nutritious fruits and vegetables. It is clear to me that the current food stamp benefit is totally inadequate. I have managed to stay within the budget, but I only have to do this for one week. I can only imagine how difficult it must be to live like this every day of your life....

The Food Stamp Budget Challenge was designed to help Members of Congress better understand how the program works on a personal level. For one week, starting Tuesday, May 15, 2007, Representatives Schakowsky, McGovern, Emerson and Ryan (D-OH) will live on the nationwide average food stamp benefit. The nationwide average monthly benefit in FY 2005 was $94.05, approximately $3 a day or $1 a meal. Members are only allowed to spend a total of $21 on food and beverages during the week. Under the challenge rules, Members are instructed to maintain a strict budget and they can only consume food that they purchased for the challenge.

The Food Stamp Program helps more than 26 million low-income people purchase food for themselves and their families. The program is designed as a safety net to help ensure people have access to food during difficult times, with the majority of people leaving the program within nine months. More than half of food stamp recipients are children and eight percent are over 60 years of age. The program is due to be reauthorized this year as part of the Farm Bill. Representatives McGovern and Emerson have introduced H.R. 2129, which provides for increased funding and eligibility for the Food Stamp Program.