>> WE'LL RETURN TO PBS NEWSHOUR
WEEKEND IN A COUPLE OF MINUTES,
BUT FIRST SOME LOCAL NEWS FROM
KLRU BROUGHT TO YOU BY
TEXAS MUTUAL INSURANCE.
>> IT TOOK ONLY THREE YEARS, BUT
PRESIDENT OBAMA SIGNED THE
NEWEST FARM BILL ON
FEBRUARY 7TH.
DEEP CUTS WERE EXPECTED,
SPECIFICALLY TO THE PART OF THE
BILL THAT HANDLES SNAP, OR
WHAT'S COMMONLY CALLED FOOD
STAMPS.
AS IT TURNS OUT HERE IN TEXAS,
RECIPIENTS WILL NOT SEE THEIR
MONTHLY DOLLARS IMPACTED AT ALL.
>> THE CUTS THAT WERE MADE TO
SNAP WERE PRIMARILY IN STATES
THAT DID A HEAT-AND-EAT PROGRAM,
BASICALLY THEY GET CREDIT
TOWARDS SNAP FOR LOW INCOME
HEATING ASSISTANCE.
>> AND TEXAS ISN'T ONE OF THOSE
STATES.
THE CAPITAL AREA FOOD BANK IN
AUSTIN SERVES ABOUT 100,000
PEOPLE IN TRAVIS COUNTY ALONE,
BUT THE FOOD BANK SAYS ONLY 56%
OF THE PEOPLE WHO COULD SIGN UP
ARE ACTUALLY ENROLLED.
>> SENIOR CITIZENS, A LOT OF
TIMES, THEY DON'T REALIZE
THEY'RE ELIGIBLE FOR SNAP, AND
THAT'S AN ADDITIONAL BENEFIT
THEY CAN HAVE.
WE HAVE A LOT OF VETERANS, WE
HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO CAN
ENROLL IN THE PROGRAM ON BEHALF
OF THEIR CHILDREN.
>> SO THE FOOD BANK WORKS WITH
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND
CHURCHES TO SPREAD THE WORD
ABOUT HOW TO SIGN UP.
BUT ALSO TO BREAK THROUGH ANY
MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT THE
PROGRAMS OR THE BENEFITS
AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE.
>> THIS IS MEANT TO BE A
SUPPLEMENTAL PROGRAM.
>> ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS IS
YOU MUST BE WORKING OR YOU MUST
FIND A JOB WITHIN THREE MONTHS
OF SIGNING UP.
>> PEOPLE WHO ARE ON THE PROGRAM
NEED IT, AND THEIR -- YOU KNOW,
IT'S NOT AN EASY PROGRAM TO GET
ON, AND NOT AN EASY PROGRAM TO
STAY ON.
>> SOME OF THOSE MISCONCEPTIONS
ARE WHY THE FOOD BANK SAYS SNAP
OFTEN ENDS UP ON THE CHOPPING
BLOCK IN WASHINGTON.
>> I DO SEE THAT IS A FEATURE
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CONTINUE
TO FIGHT TO PROTECT THE PROGRAM.
>> THE RECENTLY SIGNED FARM BILL
WILL BE IN EFFECT FOR FIVE
YEARS.
FOR KLRU, I'M ALLISON SANDZA.
>> THIS LOCAL NEWS SEGMENT WAS
BROUGHT TO YOU BY TEXAS MUTUAL
INSURANCE.
NOW BACK TO PBS NEWSHOUR
WEEKEND.
