Food-stamps data a topic at caucus

Arkansans traveled to Washington, D.C., for last week’s Economic Equality Caucus.

Patty Barker of the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance and Tracy Barnett, a professor at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, participated in a session titled, “Hunger and Nutrition, Rural Community and Economic Development & USDA Related Issues.”

Barnett highlighted a survey by students at the UALR School of Social Work that provided county-by-county information about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps.

Others who spoke Thursday morning included U.S. Sen. John Boozman, a Republican from Rogers, and U.S. Rep. French Hill, a Republican from Little Rock.

Congress is working to craft a new farm bill, which includes billions of dollars for food stamps and other programs aimed at combating hunger.

“We hope to see a continuation of these programs that we know work and try to limit the cuts to those programs that are an important safety net for families struggling with hunger across the state,” Barker said.

Boozman, who serves as co-chairman of the Senate Hunger Caucus, “understands the work we do at the alliance,” Barker said. “He’s a great partner.”

Barnett said her students’ research highlights the need for ongoing funding.

“Arkansans really rely on SNAP. It’s a beneficial program for a lot of people. People are not abusing the system. People are actually using the system to help them at certain times in their lives, and then that’s ultimately going to lead to their own self-sufficiency,” she said.