Bill Text: MI HCR0003 | 2013-2014 | 97th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: A concurrent resolution to memorialize Congress to expand the use of Food Assistance Program dollars to include personal hygiene products and home cleaning supplies.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 25-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-03-07 - Referred To Committee On Families, Children, And Seniors [HCR0003 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2013-HCR0003-Introduced.html
Rep. Talabi offered the following concurrent resolution:
House Concurrent Resolution No. 3.
A concurrent resolution to memorialize Congress to expand the use of Food Assistance Program dollars to include personal hygiene products and home cleaning supplies.
Whereas, The Supplemental Food and Nutrition Program (SNAP) provides low-income households throughout the country with access to nutritious food. However, these households, like everyone, also have a great need for personal hygiene products and home cleaning supplies that are prohibited from being purchased with the food assistance program's Electronic Benefits Transfer Card (EBT); and
Whereas, Personal hygiene products and cleaning supplies are important staples in every household. They are a necessary part of the preparation for attending school, going to work, and looking for work. Such items are basic necessities for daily living and should be regarded as an allowable purchase with food assistance benefits; and
Whereas, Michigan’s decision to retroactively end cash assistance after 48 months, has resulted in the loss of financial resources for thousands of poor and disenfranchised recipients, and adds yet another challenge to their already precarious lives. Many will lose the purchasing power for such basic home sanitation and personal hygiene needs that most of us take for granted. Expansion of SNAP benefits to include such purchases would provide much needed help. Without these products, health problems may occur that could cause additional costs and hardships for the family; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That we memorialized Congress to expand the Supplemental Food Assistance Program (SNAP) to include personal hygiene products and home cleaning supplies beginning with the current SNAP authorization; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation
