In Attendance

Dee Rowland, Catholic Diocese
Sheila Walsh-McDonald, Salt Lake Community Action Program (CAP)
Lois Kelson, Community Action Services, Provo
Steve Blackman, Utahns Against Hunger
Joyce Dolcourt, Governor's Council for People with Disabilities
Helen Thatcher, Utah Department of Workforce Services (DWS)
Rose Eley, Valley Mental Health
Terri Norton-Lund, Valley Mental Health
Connie High, New Horizons Project, U of U Academic Outreach & Continuing Education
Garth Mangum, Utah Issues Board
Tim Dahlin, Christian Center of Park City
Linda Stone, Nutrition Reauthorization Program, Western Regional Anti-Hunger Consortium (WA)
Bill Walsh, Walsh & Weathers Research and Policy Studies (WRRPS)
Shirley Weathers, WWRPS

Welcome and Introductions
Everyone introduced themselves.

September 11 Tragedy and the uncertain political scene ahead
Meeting participants shared their thoughts and information about welfare reform since the September 11 Attack. It was acknowledged that priority activity in Washington, D.C. is centered on the War On Terrorism for an indefinite time, putting usual business, including welfare reform reauthorization and related legislation, on the back burner. In addition to reduced attention by lawmakers, funding decisions, including those related to social support programs, may be negatively impacted by the war and related efforts. Some speculate that Congress may short-cut discussions that would have been generated by legislation introduced prior to September 11, and instead, simply pass a Continuing Resolution--probably for one year--for TANF and other programs. Linda Stone, our guest speaker with the Western Region Anti-Hunger Consortium, noted that Food Stamps are part of H.R. 2646, the Farm Security Act, also known as "the Farm Bill." This bill has substantial agricultural implications and therefore, has a good chance of being voted on in both the House and Senate. Nonetheless, funding levels are uncertain since the evaporation of the surplus, compounded by expenditures for war. No one can say for certain what the chances are that refinements to the 1996 welfare reform approach along with 2002 Reauthorization will be considered under the circumstances.

Returning to funding, with the economy almost certainly headed into a recession, there are growing expectations of spending measures to stimulate the economy. The group was told that the Department of Labor had cut certain job training funding, but then reversed itself as job losses and unemployment rates have begun to rise. (In Utah, the Department of Workforce Services (DWS) has run out of job training money from the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) until July of 2002; however there are still TANF training funds available.) Also related to the declining economy, there are rumors of extending Unemployment Insurance.

UREAP will stay informed about these events and trends, but will plan to stay on schedule, continue to study and find ways to communicate with elected officials and to raise awareness about changes needed for the next phase of welfare reform. The group was advised of a communications from Becky Shipp, Senator Hatch's Domestic Affairs staff person, in which she noted that welfare reform briefings are, in fact, still being held and she is attending. She stressed the importance of UREAP's work as a way for Senator Hatch to learn the views of knowledgable people and organizations in Utah. Similarly, Mark Greenberg, a national advocate with the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), has also urged UREAP to keep working and to send the message to elected officials about the importance of critical domestic issues, even in unsettled times of war. The Brookings Institution is going forward with Reauthorization briefings with members of key Congressional committees. Linda Stone agreed that it is essential to continue to work.

Food Stamp Reauthorization
Linda Stone gave a slide presentation on Food Stamp Reauthorization, similar to one she gave in the morning to the Utah Emergency Food Network Association at the Jubilee Center in Salt Lake City. She summarized Food Stamp history and politics, and noted that the goal of the Consortium is make sure that western states' issues, like transportation and shelter, are considered in Reauthorization. The Consortium is also committed to serving as a resource to groups like UREAP that are working on more local levels to support positive changes to the Food Stamp Program. She invited everyone to visit the Consortium's website at http://www.wrahc.org.

Linda spent considerable time on the current vehicle for Food Stamp funding and policy change--the Farm Bill." The bill as passed by the House Agriculture Committee allows $3.3 billion out of $70 billion then available for increased Food Stamp spending in the next 10 years. Although policy changes included in the bill are all positive, that amount of money will not buy many of the reforms advocates support, nor allow restoration of benefits lost in PRWORA, such as to legal immigrants. Now in light of new money pressures, no one can predict outcomes. Linda encouraged UREAP to continue to study, discuss and make recommendations on Food Stamps and welfare reform.

After Linda's presentation the discussion became quite specific on Food Stamp recommendations, using the draft Position Paper UREAP has been working on over the past month. Attendees made several suggestions for changes to the draft. Linda was helpful in assisting the group to see some quite technical issues that needed to be addressed before the paper is finalized. The APHSA/FRAC/Second Harvest positions were endorsed, although Linda cautioned against supporting some of the reforms if the funding is not appropriated to go with them. In the course of the discussion, Valley Mental Health representatives described concerns about the way a specific Food Stamp/TANF case had been handled. They were encouraged to follow up with DWS to learn more about the source of the problem and determine solutions that may be needed. State flexibility in the Food Stamp Program was discussed and the great amount of existing flexibility noted.

Specific changes to the draft Food Stamp position paper included:

• The opening statement will be modified as follows: "We begin with a recommendation to recast the Food Stamp Program as a ‘food security' and ‘nutrition supplement' program aimed at health enhancement and work support for children, working families, people with disabilities, and elderly persons, rather than as a welfare program. This calls for making modifications to the Food Stamp program that will encourage participation by low-income households, rather than stigmatize it."
• The statement, "This calls for eliminating provisions that make eligibility contingent on work requirements or certain kinds of conduct and ensuring that child nutrition is enhanced by banning full family sanctions in the Food Stamp Program for any reason." will be moved to a later section to avoid diverting attention from the above recommendation to this more controversial point.
• Reference to the Thrifty Food Plan will be changed to "the USDA Moderate Food Program."
• "Institute a process that uses household compostiion and income as the determining factors . . . . " will be deleted.
• A statement will be added to the introductory materials indicating that it should be understood that, if funding cannot be obtained for our more costly recommendations under the current circumstances, we do not support actions that would further reduce access or benefit levels.

Update on contacts with elected officials
UREAP staff reported that, after September, they had postponed contacting elected officials. A meeting with Congressman Matheson was being worked on prior to the Attack, but was put off. However, with due consideration to new priorities, staff will resume efforts to make contacts, establish working relationships, and set up meetings with or otherwise communicate UREAP views to elected officials as opportunities present themselves.

Announcements, feedback, comments, questions
Staff announced that the Family Formation Position Paper draft is on the web for comments. Changes to the Food Stamp Position Paper, based on suggestions noted above during the meeting as well as those received via email, will be incorporated and the final version posted soon.

Next UREAP Meeting: Tuesday, October 23, 2001, 2:30 - 4:30 p.m., at Horizonte. We may be meeting in a smaller room--watch your e-mail for location. Main topic: Child Care.