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Text of Letters from the President to Senator Herman Talmadge (D-GA) & Rep. Tom Foley (D-WA) concerning Food Stamp program
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7342650
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Text of Letters from the President to Senator Herman Talmadge (D-GA) & Rep. Tom Foley (D-WA) concerning Food Stamp program
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White House Press Releases (Ford Administration)
Press Releases
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1976-02-20
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1976
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Digitized from Box 22 of the White House Press Releases at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 20, 1976
Office of the White House Press Secretary
(Portsmouth, New Hampshire)
THE WHITE HOUSE
TEXT OF LETTERS FROM THE PRESIDENT TO
SENATOR HERMAN TALMADGE & , REP. TOM FOLEY
February 19, 1976
Dear Senator Talmadge: (Congressman Foley)
I am deeply concerned by the failure of Congress to enact seriously
needed changes in the Food Stamp program.
Last October I sent to Congress legislation to reform the Food Stamp
program. My proposals were designed both to concentrate benefits
on those truly in need and to correct the abuses and inequities of the
current program. Under my plan, 24% of the participants would receive
increased benefits. This represents nearly 5 million of our neediest
citizens with incomes below the poverty level. At the same time, over-
all program costs would be reduced by $1.2 billion because most abuses
would be eliminated and those with incomes well above the poverty level
would no longer be eligible.
As you know, the Food Stamp appropriation passed by Congress in
December clearly anticipated implementation of substantial reform.
Indeed, that appropriation bill contained the assumption that reform
would take place promptly and therefore the amounts provided to pay
program benefits were reduced accordingly. Without action it is
clear that the funds appropriated will not be adequate to meet the costs
of the program. But no action has yet been taken by Congress to
implement real reform. Each day that goes by without enactment of
the reforms which I have proposed costs the taxpayers more than
$3.25 million.
My budget anticipated legislative reform action by February 1, 1976.
We have passed that date and time is running out.
While statutory changes by the Congress would be the most desirable
course of action, we can no longer afford to wait. Since the Congress
has not acted, there are only two courses open to me: to ask for more
funds to continue the program as it is, or to direct the Secretary of
Agriculture to proceed administratively to reform the program through
changes in regulations.
The first course in unacceptable to me because I believe the taxpayers
have waited far too long for reform of this program. Therefore, since
the Congress has not enacted Food Stamp reform, I have directed the
Secretary of Agriculture to issue regulations which will set in motion
the reforms needed to eliminate abuses, control costs and concentrate
benefits on those truly in need.
Sincerely,
GERALD R. FORD