Moore introduces bill to extend food stamps

U.S. Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-Milwaukee) has introduced legislation that would help unemployed people feed their families.
While some signs of economic recovery have been seen in Wisconsin and throughout the nation, many people still have difficulty finding work, Moore said.
Many of unemployed people need the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – or food stamps – to feed their families. Before passage of the Recovery Act, unemployed individuals could only receive SNAP food stamps for up to three months.  The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, signed into law last year, allowed unemployed low-income individuals to receive SNAP benefits all year.
“Our commitment to helping families get through this recession shouldn’t end until the recession does. While our economy is showing signs of growth, many families have yet to feel it personally. My bill helps ensure that families trying to make it can still feed their kids,” Moore said.
Recognizing that there is still a long road ahead to a full and robust recovery, Moore’s legislation would extend the Recovery Act provision by another year.
In Milwaukee County, there are more than 34,000 unemployed people who rely on food stamps to feed their families. Statewide, nearly 80,000 unemployed Wisconsinites receive the help.
Moore said federal estimates claim that 6 million Americans would have no other way to feed their families if they do not have food stamps.
– BizTimes Milwaukee