National News
USDA: States struggling to administer food
Posted: Nov 24, 2009 11:37 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) - With more Americans going hungry than ever before, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is concerned that dozens of states aren't adequately administering food stamp programs designed to provide food to low-income Americans.
Several states have taken steps that have been "problematic and resulted in a more complex and difficult enrollment process," according to a letter from the USDA to state administrators, which was obtained by The Associated Press. The letter says practices in those states "have not served our clients or our taxpayers well."
The letter comes as USDA released an annual report on food stamp enrollment and eligibility on Tuesday. According to the report which covers the year 2007, only 18 states enrolled 70 percent or more of those eligible for food stamps.
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