Under Secretary Bost and Members of the Committee,

Thank you for the opportunity to present testimony regarding the 2007 Farm Bill Reauthorization and the role of federal nutrition programs.

My name is Dena Speer and I am a concerned community member and present food stamp recipient. 

I am also a senior citizen and a full time student, As well as a diabetic.

My goal in going back to school is to increase my earnings potential until retirement and to be self-sustaining.

I receive $143.00 a month in food stamps. Which, as many have testified, is not nearly enough to subsist on? My husband is also a diabetic. Together we live on his income which is far below the national standard. We have no health insurance thus the cost of diabetic supplies come from our own pockets. Medications do come from the pharmaceutical low-income programs. Some are free and some are at a nominal charge which, again, comes out of our pockets. As diabetics we are required to adhere to a specific diet, which unfortunately we cannot do and buying food with our own money becomes a challenge when faced with necessary medical needs or food. The questions then become do we sacrifice our health and possibly our lives? What is the most important priority? Rent? Medications? Food? Perhaps life saving medical supplies? Or maybe living in darkness because the electric bill is lowest on the priority list? Extras such as hygiene needs, cleaning products, telephone, are not priorities. When faced with these choices how would you choose?

Food stamp programs aid those who cannot be self- supporting and those who are working to be self-sustaining. Students, single-parents, low-income, medically challenged homeless and senior citizens. Unfortunately, these are growing in numbers as I’m sure you’re well aware of, and so is the cost of food.

I see a need to expand the amount of food stamps dollars. I see a need to evaluate the recipient’s needs more closely in the application process, so as to address specific health and dietary needs, to ensure the recipient receives adequate foods.

I strongly urge you Mr. Secretary and members of this panel, today, to consider reinstating programs that will help us to make these choices, and to urge Congress to increase the amounts and well as improve the application process to include a closer evaluation. Like thousand of Americans across the United States, we want a quality of life that is sustaining and help in achieving our goals to be self-sustaining.

Thank You for allowing me the opportunity to present my testimony today and once again I urge you to consider the plight of the thousand of Americans who are hungry.