Yesterday, I received a copy of the March 21, 2014 Memorandum from Ronald Ward, Andrea Gold, and Lizbeth Silbermann with the United States Department of Agriculture involving the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (food stamps).

Page six of that Memorandum discusses Section 4008 of The Agricultural Act of 2014 (the Act), P.L.113-79, which deals with denial of food stamps to certain individuals convicted of sex crimes, murder, and abuse. The Memorandum holds:

"This provision prohibits anyone convicted of aggravated sexual abuse, murder, sexual exploitation and abuse of children, sexual assault as defined in the Violence Against Women Act of 1994, or a similar State law, and who is also not in compliance with the terms of their sentence or a fleeing felon from receiving SNAP benefits. During the application process the individual will have to attest whether he or she, or any other member of the Household, has been convicted of such a crime. If such an individual is in an otherwise eligible household, the income and resources of the individual will be considered when determining eligibility. Convictions for conduct that occurred on or before the date of enactment do not apply."

I have never agreed with the political decision to deprive a person food because he or she is convicted of any criminal act because to me it is cruel and serves only to continue punishing the person well after he or she has paid the price for their convicted crime.