Federal Food Assistance: Hurricane Katrina

Publication Date: September 2005

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Social conditions

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Abstract:

The Agriculture Department has effectively waived most eligibility and benefit rules governing food assistance programs for those affected by Hurricane Katrina, making them automatically eligible for maximum benefits. It also is providing substantial amounts of direct food aid drawn from its commodity stocks. However, a number of potential issues remain, for example, paying for administrative and commodity distribution costs, how long to continue current waiver policies, the degree of equity in current food stamp waiver rules, and whether to provide more than current maximum benefits to hurricane victims. This report will be updated. There are a number of federal food assistance efforts that can provide help in the case of emergencies or disasters like Hurricane Katrina. The most important are the Food Stamp program, child nutrition programs (e.g., school meal programs), the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (the WIC program), and federally donated food commodities.