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03 LC 30 0641
House Resolution 358
By: Representatives Ashe of the 42nd, Post 2, Henson of the 55th and Drenner of the 57th
By: Representatives Ashe of the 42nd, Post 2, Henson of the 55th and Drenner of the 57th
A RESOLUTION
Urging the Department of Human Resources, Division of Family
and Children Services to adopt specific Farm Bill 2002 state options to provide
access to the federal food stamp program for low-income Georgians; and for other
purposes.
WHEREAS, the State of Georgia has experienced more job losses than any other state during the last twelve months; and
WHEREAS, 22 percent of Georgia children live in households at or below the federal poverty line; and
WHEREAS, the United States Department of Agriculture has determined that only 56 percent of eligible Georgians receive federally funded food assistance through the food stamp program; and
WHEREAS, the loss of these federal dollars to local grocery retail businesses and low_income Georgians can range from $300 million and $350 million; and
WHEREAS, the income from the federally funded food stamp program supports Georgia´s food industry; and
WHEREAS, the fundamental purpose of the federally funded food stamp program is to provide food and nourish low_income children and their families; and
WHEREAS, the State of Georgia has the opportunity to increase the number of children enrolled in the federally funded food stamp program while supporting welfare_to_work efforts by low_income parents.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body call upon the Department of Human Resources to adopt and implement the following food stamp program state options: provide five months of transitional food stamps for TANF recipients; institute categorical exemptions for the value of the first vehicle owned by otherwise food stamp eligible households; support personal savings by excluding the value of Individual Development Accounts and Individual Retirement Accounts from household food stamp budget calculations; annually request and implement labor surplus waivers for all eligible Georgia jurisdictions; provide for an annual review and renewal of the standard utility allowance; and exempt all senior citizens from the face_to_face interview requirement.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to the Governor, the Commissioner of Human Resources, and the Director of the Division of Family and Children Services.
WHEREAS, the State of Georgia has experienced more job losses than any other state during the last twelve months; and
WHEREAS, 22 percent of Georgia children live in households at or below the federal poverty line; and
WHEREAS, the United States Department of Agriculture has determined that only 56 percent of eligible Georgians receive federally funded food assistance through the food stamp program; and
WHEREAS, the loss of these federal dollars to local grocery retail businesses and low_income Georgians can range from $300 million and $350 million; and
WHEREAS, the income from the federally funded food stamp program supports Georgia´s food industry; and
WHEREAS, the fundamental purpose of the federally funded food stamp program is to provide food and nourish low_income children and their families; and
WHEREAS, the State of Georgia has the opportunity to increase the number of children enrolled in the federally funded food stamp program while supporting welfare_to_work efforts by low_income parents.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body call upon the Department of Human Resources to adopt and implement the following food stamp program state options: provide five months of transitional food stamps for TANF recipients; institute categorical exemptions for the value of the first vehicle owned by otherwise food stamp eligible households; support personal savings by excluding the value of Individual Development Accounts and Individual Retirement Accounts from household food stamp budget calculations; annually request and implement labor surplus waivers for all eligible Georgia jurisdictions; provide for an annual review and renewal of the standard utility allowance; and exempt all senior citizens from the face_to_face interview requirement.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to the Governor, the Commissioner of Human Resources, and the Director of the Division of Family and Children Services.