Washington, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) assailed massive cuts to federal food and nutrition initiatives that House Agriculture Committee Republicans forced through today.

Larsen joined with his Democratic colleagues in opposing a budget measure that will hurt hungry families in Washington state and across the nation. As part of a budget reconciliation passed earlier this year, the House Agriculture Committee, of which Larsen is a member, was instructed to cut spending in mandatory programs under the committee’s jurisdiction by $3 billion. More recently, the Republican leadership demanded even deeper cuts. Today’s markup was a result of that request. Among other actions, the measure that passed out of committee cut $844 million from the Food Stamp Program.

“The shameful measure that passed the Agriculture Committee today forces working poor families to bear the brunt of massive budget cuts,” Larsen said. “It represents a direct assault on hungry kids, senior citizens and working poor families in Washington state and across the country.”

Nearly 12 percent of Washington residents and 14 percent of our state’s children live in poverty. The most recent numbers showed that 12 percent of Washington families were food insecure. And during fiscal year 2004, more than 485,000 people in Washington state received food stamps each month. In July of this year, that number was over 513,000.

In August, Larsen joined with the Children’s Alliance, the Washington Food Coalition and the Volunteers of America Western Washington to speak out against these federal funding cuts to anti-hunger and nutrition efforts.

“These changes will hit Washington state especially hard, because our state has made maximum use of the commonsense eligibility flexibility that is now being taken away,” Larsen pointed out.

He further explained, “Under the current rules, working poor families who suddenly find themselves food insecure but who have a working car or a little money in the bank can still access food assistance.  If categorical flexibility disappears, these families will no longer get the help they need during a crisis.”

The flexible eligibility option allows states such as Washington to reach out to working poor families with children. Many of these children will now be denied food stamps under this change. 

As a way to cut costs in the program, today’s measure adopted a proposal in the president’s budget that strips states of categorical eligibility, a flexibility that allows the state to coordinate certain aspects of food stamp eligibility with the eligibility rules used for state programs like TANF and Medicaid.  Washington is one of 11 states that would be hardest hit by this cut because it has made full use of the categorical eligibility option.  This flexibility has helped Washington to streamline program regulations and procedures, and to modify the program to better meet the needs of working poor families without changing any of the major procedures necessary to apply for food stamps.

“Washington state currently suffers from higher than average rates of hunger and food insecurity.  Increased cuts and restricting flexibility would be devastating,” Larsen stated.  “Many working poor families and their children will now be denied food stamps under this change.”

“I will continue to do all I can to fight these cuts and restrictions as this proposal moves forward to a vote on the House floor,” he committed.

Larsen represents Washington’s 2nd Congressional District and is the only member from the state serving on the House Agriculture Committee.