USDA Partnering with Mexico to Boost Food Stamp Participation

[Dusty]

http://dailycaller.com/2012/07/19/us...participation/

The Mexican government has been working with the United States Department of Agriculture to increase participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or food stamps.

USDA has an agreement with Mexico to promote American food assistance programs, including food stamps, among Mexican Americans, Mexican nationals and migrant communities in America.

“USDA and the government of Mexico have entered into a partnership to help educate eligible Mexican nationals living in the United States about available nutrition assistance,” the USDA explains in a brief paragraph on their “Reaching Low-Income Hispanics With Nutrition Assistance” web page. “Mexico will help disseminate this information through its embassy and network of approximately 50 consular offices.”

The partnership — which was signed by former USDA Secretary Ann M. Veneman and Mexican Secretary of Foreign Affairs Luis Ernesto Derbez Bautista in 2004 — sees to it that the Mexican Embassy and Mexican consulates in America provide USDA nutrition assistance program information to Mexican Americans, Mexican nationals working in America and migrant communities in America. The information is specifically focused on eligibility criteria and access.

The goal, for USDA, is to get rid of what they see as enrollment obstacles and increase access among potentially eligible populations by working with arms of the Mexican government in America. Benefits are not guaranteed or provided under the program — the purpose is outreach and education.

(As well as voter registration. My words. )

Some of the materials the USDA encourages the Mexican government to use to educate and promote the benefit programs are available free online for order and download. A partial list of materials include English and Spanish brochures titled “Five Easy Steps To Snap Benefits,” “How To Get Food Help — A Consumer’s Guide to FNCS Programs,” “Ending Hunger Improving Nutrition Combating Obesity,” and posters with slogans like “Food Stamps Make America Stronger.”

When asked for details and to elaborate on the program, USDA stressed it was established in 2004 and not meant for illegal immigrants.

Snip

[tonyz]

Some info below from the USDA re SNAP screening.

http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/applica....htm#immigrant

Excerpts:

For households in the 48 Contiguous States and the District of Columbia October 1, 2010 through September 30, 2011. To get SNAP benefits, households must meet certain tests, including resource and income tests:

The 2002 Farm Bill restores SNAP eligibility to most legal immigrants that:

Have lived in the country for 5 years; or
Are receiving disability-related assistance or benefits, regardless of entry date; or
Starting 10-1-03, are children regardless of entry date.
Certain non-citizens such as those admitted for humanitarian reasons and those admitted for permanent residence are also eligible for the program. Eligible household members can get SNAP benefits even if there are other members of the household that are not eligible.

(See Policy on Immigrants for information on qualified alien categories and eligibility)

(See also SNAP Guidance on Non-Citizen Eligibility)

Non-citizens that are in the U.S. temporarily, such as students, are not eligible.

A number of States have their own programs to provide benefits to immigrants who do not meet the regular SNAP eligibility requirements. For a table of those programs, see State Programs.
Last modified: 04/11/2012

[Dusty]

The whole thing smells fishy and Obama-esque.

[Paragrouper]

The National Parks Service warns: Do Not feed the Wildlife

...Animals that are fed by people become dependent on human food...

Too bad, they could really increase the food stamp rolls if they added wildlife.

[Sigaba]

IMO, the current administration is finding every possible reason to keep the fourth branch of government (i.e. the federal bureaucracy) as busy as possible. We cannot cut the federal budget and lay off workers -- they're essential personnel doing very important work.

My $0.02.

[Oldrotorhead]

f I read the criteria correctly any criminal alien that has been here 5 years gets food stamps and any illegal alien child that gets here gets food stamps? If this is true then we have a bunch of politicians that need replacing,. These political hacks burying our children with debit just to buy votes.

[tonyz]

Originally Posted by Oldrotorhead

...we have a bunch of politicians that need replacing,. These political hacks burying our children with debit just to buy votes.

This is true for both major political parties - we need a major political house cleaning. The government beast has grown far too large, hungry, powerful and intrusive.

ETA: Although he is not certainly not a panacea to government spending - he is the best we have at the moment against the statist tendencies of the incumbent. One step at a time.

FWIW from Romney's web page --

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY

"The mission to restore America begins with getting our fiscal house in order. President Obama has put our nation on an unsustainable course. Spending is out of control. Yearly deficits are massive. And unless we curb Washington’s appetite for spending, the national debt will grow to the size of our entire economy this year.

As President, Mitt Romney will cut federal spending and bring much-needed reforms to entitlement programs. Mitt will work toward balancing the budget, reducing the size and reach of the federal government, and returning power to states and the people."

http://www.mittromney.com/issues/fiscal-responsibility

[Dusty]

Originally Posted by Oldrotorhead

f I read the criteria correctly any criminal alien that has been here 5 years gets food stamps and any illegal alien child that gets here gets food stamps? If this is true then we have a bunch of politicians that need replacing,. These political hacks burying our children with debit just to buy votes.

Yeah, we need a whole new batch, but we're stuck with the pseudo-intellectual, parse-it-to-a-nuanced-crust, hypocritical liars we have; very few people in the political ranks right now have the balls to call a spade a spade, so we're stuck.

[tonyz]

Someone in DC is at least inquiring about this program.

http://budget.senate.gov/republican/...0-2017f2f96e0a

[tonyz]

Originally Posted by Dusty

Yeah, we need a whole new batch, but we're stuck with the pseudo-intellectual, parse-it-to-a-nuanced-crust, hypocritical liars we have; very few people in the political ranks right now have the balls to call a spade a spade, so we're stuck.

Bingo. IMO, there is all together too much mental masturbation going on in DC and elsewhere. The lack of integrity is astounding. The lack of common sense appalling.

Roll on November.

[Dusty]

Originally Posted by tonyz

Bingo. IMO, there is all together too much mental masturbation going on in DC and elsewhere. The lack of integrity is astounding. The lack of common sense appalling.

Roll on November.

Problem is, even then only part of the boil will get lanced.

[tonyz]

Originally Posted by Dusty

Problem is, even then only part of the boil will get lanced.

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step..." that first step requires that the people take back the WH and Senate.

...then Holder's trial, but I digress.

[Dusty]

Originally Posted by tonyz

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step..." that first step requires that the people take back the WH and Senate.

It's been a long four-plus years. I can flatly state that anybody-literally anybody-will be an improvement.

[tonyz]

Originally Posted by Dusty

It's been a long four-plus years. I can flatly state that anybody-literally anybody-will be an improvement.

Carter wrought Reagan - let's hope that the folks that fell into the "making history" BS of the last election wake up and this nightmare is soon over. Then we roll up our sleeves - there is a lot of damage to repair. The deficit, the economy, the border, healthcare, the Supreme Court, etc., ! That's just year 1 !!

No matter what - don't let the bastards get you down !

[Dusty]

Originally Posted by tonyz

Carter wrought Reagan - let's hope that the folks that fell into the "making history" BS of the last election wake up and this nightmare is soon over. Then we roll up our sleeves - there is a lot of damage to repair. The deficit, the economy, the border, healthcare, the Supreme Court, etc., ! That's just year 1 !!

No matter what - don't let the bastards get you down !

Oh, I don't get down-I get pissed.