ms. jennifer hatcher. since this hearing is about store owners, i thought it was appropriate to invite them. ms. hatcher's organization represents 26,000 supermarkets and food stores across the country that implement the program on a daily basis. also want to thank you for allowing our minority witness to appear, on the first panel with everyone else, you did not have to do that but you did. and we are in deed grateful. let me start by emphasizing a critical point. nearly half of all the ben fish ae -- beneficiaries of the program are poor, hungry children. serving 46 million americans with incomes at or below 130% of the poverty level. according to usda, 47% are under 18 years old. the program also serves millions of people who are elderly or have disabilities. has never been more critical than it is today. 2008 financial crisis drove more americans into poverty than any other time since we started tracking this data. the collapse of wall street and the evisceration of trillions of dollars in household sav

ms. jennifer hatcher senior vice president of government and public affairs for the food marketing institute. prior to joining fmi, she served as chairperson for chairman spencer bachus as his chief of staff. lastly, ms. faulkner is inspector general of the commonwealth of pennsylvania. prior to becoming inspktector general, law partner at philadelphia office of ballard, spall, llp. she had a lengthy career, not that lengthy, you are too young in public service as assistant u.s. attorney, deputy attorney general of pennsylvania, and philadelphia public defender. that is a lot to pack in a short time. if you would all rise pursuant to our committee rules, all witnesses are to be sworn. please raise your right hand. do you solemnly swear or affirm that the testimony you are about to give will be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth? >> i do. >> i do. >> i do. let the record reflect that all witnesses answered in the affirmative. please be seated. this committee historically tends to have a soft gavel as i informed the witnesses ahead of time. we have a vote on a district work p

ms. jennifer hatcher is senior vice president of government and public affairs for the food marketing institute. prior to joining fmi she served as chairperson for chairman spencer bachus as his chief of staff. lastly, ms. faulkner is inspector general of the commonwealth of pennsylvania. prior to becoming inspector general ms. faulkner was a law partner at the philadelphia office of ballard llp. she is has had a lengthy career, not that lengthy, you are too young, and public service as an assistant u.s. attorneyattorney, deputy attorney general of pennsylvania, and philadelphia public defender. that is a lot to pack in a short time. if if you would all rise pursuant to our committee rules all witnesses are to be sworn. please raise your right hand. do you solemnly swear or affirm the testimony you're about to give will be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth? let the record reflect all witnesses answered in the affirmative. this committee historically tends to have a soft gavel as i informed the witnesses ahead of time. we have a vote on a district last working day. i know my p

ms. jennifer hatcher is senior vice president of government and public affairs for the food marketing instituteior to joining fmi she served as chairperson for chairman spencer bachus as his chief of staff. lastly, ms. faulkner is inspector general of the commonwealth of pennsylvania. prior to becoming inspector general ms. faulkner was a law partner at the philadelphia office of ballard llp. she is has had a lengthy career, not that lengthy, you are too young, and public service as an assistant u.s. attorneyattorney, deputy attorney general of pennsylvania, and philadelphia public defender. that is a lot to pack in a short time. if if you would all rise pursuant to our committee rules all witnesses are to be sworn. please raise your right hand. do you solemnly swear or affirm the testimony you're about to give will be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth? let the record reflect all witnesses answered in the affirmative. this committee historically tends to have a soft gavel as i informed the witnesses ahead of time. we have a vote on a district last working day. i know my peopl