The temporary stimulus for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) would expire by the end of the month. Popularly known as food stamps, the temporary increase began in 2009 when USD 45.2 billion was placed in the SNAP under a federal stimulus program. From USD 588 a month, a family of four began receiving USD 668 monthly.

After the stimulus ends, however, that same family would get a 5% reduction to USD 632 a month on the SNAP. The food stamp program feeds USD 47 million Americans each month, nearly half of whom are children and teenagers.

The food stamp bill is another issue that has divided the House of Representatives and the Senate, according to the CS Monitor. The final form of USD 500 billion bill is still being debated upon. The Republican-controlled House of Representatives wanted to cut the program by about USD 40 billion in the next ten years. Under its more stringent eligibility rules, there would be more than 4 million people that would be cut off from the SNAP beginning 2014. The Democrat-controlled Senate, meanwhile, proposed a reduction which is nine times less than that proposed by the House.