Proposed cuts to food stamp programs would hurt military families and retirees who depend on the assistance to get food on the table, according to statistics on food stamp purchases at military commissaries.
An investigation by Huffington Post found $100 million worth of federal food aid has been used by both active-duty and retired members of the military on military bases:
HuffPost looked at data provided by the Defense Commissary Agency -- which serves a wide range of military members, including retirees -- and concluded that commissary customers have redeemed $101 million worth of food stamps since June 2011.
The Stars and Stripes recently found a spike in food stamp usage at military commissaries. Based on Defense Commissary Agency figures, food stamp purchases at commissaries have almost tripled since 2008.
The agency reports that nearly $88 million worth of food stamps were used at commissaries nationwide in 2011, up from $31 million in 2008.
The House has voted to cut the food stamp program by $134 billion over 10 years, ironically to avoid cuts to the defense budget, according to Bloomberg.
The Senate Agriculture Committee's farm bill aims to reduce the program by $4.5 billion. That bill is being debated on the Senate Floor this week.
