根據川普政府最新提出的糧食券(food stamps)人數縮減方案，全美將近百萬學童將失去可以享用學校免費餐點的資格。

糧食券計畫主管機關農業部在一份評估報告當中分析，這項改變將對98萬2000名學童造成影響。

在這些學生當中，約半數未來將必須付費才能吃到學校餐點，午餐價格則是每餐0.40元的優惠價，早餐也必須支付0.30元優惠價，另外大約4萬名學童如果要吃學校午餐，則必須繳付全額餐費，至於價格則視學區不同而有差別。

新方案上路之後，未來全美只有44萬5000名學童仍有資格享用免費的學校餐點，但這些學生的家長必須為孩子提出申請並且獲准，不再像以往一樣身分條件是自動符合的。

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川普上台之後，對於俗稱糧食券的「營養補充援助計畫」(Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program，簡稱SNAP)採取大幅緊縮；對於這次影響約百萬學童的政策改變，農業部並沒有針對學生家庭收入訂定新標準。

農業部表示，這次計畫調整主要用意在於修補漏洞，某些民眾其實不符合糧食券領取資格，卻有機會獲取福利。

農業部也說，受到政策改變影響的絕大多數學童，都可以繼續享用學校免費餐點，或者以經過打折之後的價格自費購買餐點。

關懷組織「孩子不應受餓」(No Kid Hungry)資深副主席莉莎‧戴維斯(Lisa Davis)說，光是家長必須為孩子提出免費享用學校餐點的申請，可能就會形成一道藩籬。她說：「我們常常聽到學校反應說，許多家庭不了解申請手續的文書內容，或者不知道怎麼把申請文件送回學校。」

根據統計，「全國學校午餐計畫」(National School Lunch Program)為全美3000萬學生供餐，其中目前約有2000萬名學生每天可吃到免費餐點。「學校營養協會」(School Nutrition Association)指出，在2016至2017學年度中，小學生午餐平均每份餐點價格為2.48元。

By Tom Karst

President Trump is urging farm bill conference committee members to pass the 2018 farm bill with work requirements for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients.

In a tweet on Sept. 5, Trump said “The Trump Economy is booming with help of House and Senate GOP. #FarmBill with SNAP work requirements will bolster farmers and get America back to work. Pass the Farm Bill with SNAP work requirements!”

The 2018 Farm Bill Conference Committee concluded its first public meeting Sept. 5, with lawmakers agreeing on the need for a new farm bill but not yet on how to get there.

The House and Senate passed different versions of the farm bill, and the conference committee is given the task of creating a final version that can be passed by both chambers. The farm bill conference Committee is composed of 56 members, including nine senators and 47 representatives.

 “Today my colleagues in the House and Senate highlighted the urgency in farm and ranch country and just how desperate times are as net farm income is slated to fall again this year,” House Agriculture Committee Chairman Michael Conaway, R-Texas, said after the meeting. “While I’m pleased with progress on the farm bill – we must pick up the pace. This will all come together quickly if all four principals are willing to make meaningful compromises. I have made it very clear that I am willing to do so. We still have a lot of work to do, but I believe we can get this done on time.”

The farm bill passed by the House of Representatives would increase SNAP work requirements to recipients as old as 65, up from the current 49. No House Democrats supported the House farm bill.

The Senate version extended job training programs but did not include House provisions for expanded work requirements.

House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Collin Peterson, D-Minn., said in prepared remarks before the Sept. 5 meeting said that he was intent on getting the farm bill passed.

“Nobody in this room is going to get everything he or she wants; this process is about compromise,” he said.

Conference committee member Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Calif., said during the Sept. 5 meeting that the farm bill is important to specialty crop producers.

“My Central Valley district is one of the top producing agricultural areas in the nation, and as a local farmer, I know how vital it is for my constituents and our nation that we protect our farmers and our farmland,” he said in his remarks. “California farmers must be treated fairly and promoted in the 2018 Farm Bill, and I look forward to working with all of you as we conclude our deliberations.”

The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance has been meeting in recent weeks with House and Senate Democrat and Republican members to fight for industry’s priorities for the final farm bill, said Laura Phelps, consultant with the American Mushroom Institute. 

Source: https://www.thepacker.com/article/trump-injects-snap-reform-opinion-farm-bill-conference-meets