Fitzgerald Wants Electronic Food Stamps Nationwide

October 11, 1999

Sen. Peter G. Fitzgerald (R-IL) wants to expand the use of electronic food stamp accounts so that program participants are able to use their cards anywhere in the country. Now participants who cross state lines to buy groceries have a difficult time using the cards.

Electronic food stamp accounts began replacing traditional paper food coupons in1996. Families in the electronic benefit transfer program use state-issued plastic cards to access their food stamp accounts and purchase groceries. The program substantially reduced food stamp program costs and made grocery shopping more convenient, but when people try to use the cards outside their state, they are prevented from doing so.

Fitzgerald notes that under the old system, recipients could use their coupons to buy groceries anywhere in the country. A bill he plans to introduce will help solve the problem by requiring USDA to improve the system so consumers can use the EBT cards anywhere by 2002. About $20 million a year should be saved by the bill, he adds.