Milling & Baking News - December 22, 2015 - 38

Washington X

members cannot communicate directly with each other
on pending matters unless a public meeting is called.
4 - Establish a voluntary arbitration process for resolving disputes involving rail rates, charges, rules and
practices. The arbitration process would be available
only if the rail carrier has market dominance (as defined
under the Staggers Rail Act of 1980), and the relevant
parties involved voluntarily opt-in. Further, the S.T.B.
arbitration process could not be used for issues having

industrywide applicability, labor-protective conditions,
or disputes solely between two or more railroads.
Monetary relief would be capped at $2 million for disputes involving rail practices, and $25 million for rail
rate damages.
5 - The Government Accountability Office would be
required to conduct a study reviewing rail contract proposals containing rail movements involving multiple
origin-destination pairs. MBN

SNAP reduces hunger but often runs out too soon
WASHINGTON - The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, is highly effective in reducing food insecurity among
recipients who lack dependable food resources,
according to a recent study from the White
House Council of Economic Advisers (C.E.A.).
Among the study's key findings was research
indicating that children who receive monthly
SNAP benefits show improvements in health and
academic performance followed by long-term
gains in health, educational attainment and economic well-being as they grow older. But running
out of benefits before the end of the month remains a persistent problem for many SNAP households, the C.E.A. said.
SNAP is a federal program that increases the food purchasing power of about 46 million low-income Americans,

including children, the elderly, the disabled and, increasingly, the working poor. SNAP lifted almost five million people out of poverty in 2014. Two-thirds
of SNAP recipients are households with children. Pregnant women participating in SNAP
are 5% to 23% less likely to have a low birthweight baby, research said. And eligible SNAP
recipients may receive job training as well,
the C.E.A. noted.
Despite the positive effects of SNAP, though,
nearly one in seven domestic households experienced food insecurity in 2014, the C.E.A. said, with
almost seven million households in which at least one member missed meals because of a lack of resources to buy food.
SNAP benefits do not typically sustain families' nutritional requirements through the end of the month, the
C.E.A. study found. Among the negative outcomes was a
drop-off in caloric intake of as much as 25% over the course

'Despite the positive effects of SNAP,
though, nearly one in seven domestic
households experienced food insecurity
in 2014.'

Commitment to quality
isn't just a slogan...

...It's a daily focus.
We supply the industry with the highest quality
* vitamin/mineral premixes
* ﬂour oxidation blends
* ﬂour maturing ingredients
* manufacture state of the art
micro-ingredient dispensing systems
* on-site ﬁeld servicing
PO Box 1460, Salina, KS 67402
PH: 785-825-2181 FX: 785-825-8908
www.researchprod.com * info@researchprod.com

38 / December 22, 2015 XMilling & Baking News

- White House Council of Economic Advisers

of a month as well as a 27% increase in hospital admissions
at the end of the month compared with the start because of
low blood sugar in low-income adults. Children in families
receiving SNAP benefits showed a pattern of diminished
performance on standardized tests at the end of the month,
and disciplinary actions among affected school children increased 11% between the first and last week of the month,
the research showed.
The C.E.A. report said the Obama administration has
taken steps over the last seven years to improve the SNAP
program. Among highlighted initiatives was a temporary
expansion by 14% of SNAP benefits during the Great Recession. Another was the Community Eligibility Provision,
making it easier for schools in high-poverty areas to offer
free breakfast and lunch to all students. Revisions in the
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) added a cash benefit to allow
for the purchase of fruits and vegetables. Access to food for
children during the summer, when schools may not be in
session, also has been improved, the C.E.A. said.
Reducing administrative difficulties providing SNAP to
the low-income elderly has also been a priority. The 2016
budget proposal from the White House included a proposal
to expand efforts to improve access to SNAP benefits among
this segment of the U.S. population, the C.E.A. said. MBN
bakingbusiness.com / world-grain.com
http://www.researchprod.com http://www.bakingbusiness.com http://www.world-grain.com
Milling & Baking News - December 22, 2015

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Milling & Baking News - December 22, 2015
