EXPLORATION, ENCOUNTER, EXCHANGE IN HISTORY
Pick a topic you like, find a related piece of legislation (the
purchased stamps on a dollar-for-dollar ratio, but also
also gain a new awareness of, and hopefully interest in, the
War II resulted in both decreased surpluses and reduced
good news is there are thousands from which to choose.),
and prepare to engage in an enriching research experience.
You will take away knowledge of the legislation’s content, but
process of the people’s branch of government.
M
U.S. Domestic Food Exchange
any experience food sharing in their day-to-day lives
without giving it much thought. It can be as simple as
students exchanging an apple for carrots during their lunch
break or putting a few items in the food donation bin at the
grocery store. It also can be be complex, as implemented in
government programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program (SNAP) and Women, Infants, and
Children (WIC). There are many federal programs that focus
on the distribution of food and other basic commodities.
received additional stamps that entitled them to buy foods
designated as surplus at local stores for a reduced price.2
The program lasted until 1943, when the escalation of World
unemployment. In 1961 Congress reestablished the Food
Stamp Program as part of Lyndon Johnson’s War on Poverty,
to assist thousands of undernourished Americans.3
With passage of the Food Stamp Act of 1964, the program
became permanent, but it was not until 10 years later, in
1974, that Congress required participation from all states
nationwide. Senator Dole had been peripherally involved
with the program throughout his time in the House of
Representatives (1961-1968) and early Senate career, but
in 1977 he took a leadership role in shaping the Food
Stamp program.4
Laws affecting those programs come under review
With Senator George McGovern (D-South Dakota), who Dole
T
purchase requirements and lax eligibility standards. The
periodically and can be changed to fit a new situation.
Tracking changes to those laws can demonstrate changes
in the political climate as well as the social situation.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
(SNAP)
he Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly
the Food Stamp Program, helps low-income families
and individuals purchase food. SNAP is the largest nutrition
assistance program within the federal social safety net.
Despite the name change in 2008 and the changeover from
stamps to an electronic system, many Americans still refer to
SNAP as the Food Stamp Program.
1
The Food Stamp Program started in the late 1930s in
response to an unprecedented situation where the United
States had both farm surpluses and hundreds of thousands
of hungry people. In the early version of the program, people
widely credited for opening his eyes to issues of domestic
food insecurity, Dole worked to address two of the main
problems associated with food stamps: cumbersome
Senators’ initiative succeeded in designing a program that
eliminated the need for individuals to make a required
minimum payment to obtain food stamp coupons, which
many could not afford. Dole and McGovern continued to
work on food issues together for decades.5
W
Women, Infants and Children (WIC)
omen, Infants, and Children, provides supplemental
foods, health care referrals, and nutrit