Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 93.djvu/421

 PUBLIC LAW 96-58—AUG. 14, 1979

Public Law 96-58 96th Congress

An Act

To increase the fiscal year 1979 authorization for appropriations for the food stamp program, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, INCREASE IN 1979 AUTHORIZATION FOR APPROPRIATIONS; REPEAL OF AUTHORITY FOR CARRYOVER OF APPROPRIATIONS; METHOD OF REDUCING ALLOTMENTS IF APPROPRIATIONS ARE INSUFFICIENT

SECTION

93 STAT. 389

Aug. 14, 1979 [H.R. 4057]

Food Stamp Act of 1977, amendment.

1. Section 18 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 is amended 7 USC 2027.

by-

(1) striking out "$6,158,900,000" in the first sentence of subsec- Appropriation authorization. tion (a) and inserting in lieu thereof "$6,778,900,000"; (2) striking out the third sentence of subsection (a) and insert- Report to congressional ing in lieu thereof two new sentences as follows: "The Secretary committees. shall, by the fifteenth day of each month, submit a report to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate setting forth the Secretary's best estimate of the second preceding month's expenditure, including administrative costs, as well as the cumulative totals for the fiscal year. In each monthly report, the Secretary shall also state whether there is reason to believe that reductions in the value of allotments issued to households certified to participate in the food stamp program will be necessary under subsection (b) of this section.'; (3) striking out "If in the second sentence of subsection O> and t) inserting in lieu thereof "Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, if; and (4) adding at the end thereof new subsections (c) and (d) as follows: "(c) In prescribing the manner in which allotments will be reduced Allotment under subsection (b) of this section, the Secretary shall ensure that reductions. such reductions reflect, to the maximum extent practicable, the ratio of household income, determined under sections 5(d) and 5(e) of this Act, to the income standards of eligibility, for households of equal 7 USC 2014. size, determined under section 5(c) of this Act. The Secretary may, in prescribing the manner in which allotments will be reduced, establish (1) special provisions applicable to persons sixty years of age or over and persons who are physically or mentally handicapped or otherwise disabled, and (2) minimum allotments after any reductions are otherwise determined under this section. "(d) Not later than sixty days after the issuance of a report under subsection (a) of this section in which the Secretary expresses the belief that reductions in the value of allotments to be issued to households certified to participate in the food stamp program will be necessary, the Secretary shall take the requisite action to reduce allotments in accordance with the requirements of this section. Not Statement to later than seven days after the Secretary takes any action to reduce congressional committees.

�