WASHINGTON, Sept. 27, 2004 - Secretary Ann M. Veneman today announced the award of $18 million to States that demonstrated timely provision of services and ensured access to nutrition assistance in the Food Stamp Program.

"We are pleased to recognize States that have demonstrated diligence and commitment in the administration of the Food Stamp Program," said Veneman. "These awards are designed to recognize States that have achieved the best as well as the most improved performance in providing access to nutrition assistance to low-income individuals."

The 2002 Farm Bill authorized USDA to provide awards to States that demonstrate high or improved performance in the administration of the Food Stamp Program. These awards recognize the importance of customer service in administering this critical nutrition program. Today's awards are being given to States with the best or most improved participant access rate as well as the timeliness of processing participant applications in FY2003. Some $12 million was divided among the four States with the highest and the four States with the most improved participant access rate. And, $6 million was divided among the six States with the highest percentage of timely processed applications.

These program access awards follow another $30 million in program integrity awards to States for lowest and most improved payment error rates and negative error rates that were announced on Sept. 8, 2004.

The Food Stamp Program provides support to needy households and to those making the transition from welfare to work. The program serves as the first line of defense against hunger. It enables low-income families to buy nutritious food with Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards. In June 2004, over 24 million individuals in over 10 million households participated in the program.

The following States will be receiving awards:

Participant Access Rate

Most Improved

• Delaware: $187,811.38
• Maine: $645,236.73
• Oklahoma: $1,499,861.41
• South Carolina: $1,812,971.95

Best

• DC: $379,557.36
• Missouri: $2,438,672.99
• Oregon: $1,954,598.27
• Tennessee: $3,081.289.92

Application Processing Timeliness

• Kentucky: $1,948,771.82
• Massachusetts: $1,257,395.97
• New Hampshire: $206,004.26
• Oklahoma: $1,421,687.07
• South Dakota: $186,180.82
• West Virginia: $979,960.06

Further information about the Food Stamp Program is available at: www.fns.usda.gov.