In 1996 Congress stopped indexing food stamps, which means food stamps do not go as far as they used to. Welfare advocates said rising food prices are hurting food stamp recipients some families is the falling value of food stamps.

"But in 1996, they changed the rules so it was not indexed anymore, so for the past 10 or 11 years the value of food stamps has decreased and food costs more but the indexing is not there to the amount of food people can get," said Bob Quinn, the Association for Social Welfare Executive Director.

The food stamp program is part of the new farm bill Congress is debating this week. The House put back indexing, which adjusts the value of food stamps, but the Senate has yet to consider the House version of the bill.