On February 7, 2014, the President signed the Agriculture Act of 2014 (PL 113-79), better known as the Farm Bill, which reauthorizes farm and nutrition programs for the next five years. Some specific provisions affecting Title IV: Nutrition provisions include:
- Cutting $8.6 billion over 10 years through a reduction in the “Heat and Eat” provision. This allowance provided a household deduction for heating and cooling expenses when determining SNAP eligibility. Arizona did not use this provision so Arizona households will not be impacted by this cut.
- Continuing the stimulus benefit cut implemented in November 2013. Arizona households saw an average decrease in benefits of $20/ case or $8/person.
- A $205 million increase in The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) over 10 years. These funds allow food banks to purchase healthy and nutritious foods and account for nearly 20% of the food that flow through Arizona food banks.
- Transitioning the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CFSP) to a seniors-only program. Right now in Arizona, nearly 94% of recipients are seniors.
- Codifying many SNAP outreach provisions already in policy at USDA, including limits on cooperative agreements with foreign governments, prohibiting the use of federal dollars on television, radio or billboard advertisements, prohibiting reimbursement for “per applicant” basis, and prohibiting “recruitment” of individuals into the SNAP program.
- Creating a new dairy donation program that allows USDA to purchase dairy items for low income groups when certain price margins are at extremely low levels.
- Allowing for SNAP home delivery for seniors and the disabled.
- Creating $100 million in SNAP incentive grants to encourage produce purchase.
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