LEGISLATION

 Spring 2011:  Nutrition assistance on the chopping block in Congress

Punishing the Poor

By Vicki B. Escarra, President and Chief Executive Officer, Feeding America

Posted 06/04/11

"Staggering. Irresponsible, Indefensible.  Those are just some of the words that describe the cuts to safety-net programs that the House Appropriations Committee approved ... when they marked up the House version of the FY2012 Agriculture Appropriations bill," wrote Ms. Escarra on "Huffpost Impact" at the HuffingtonPost.com.

. . . . "These cuts will reduce the capacity of food banks, pantries, shelters and soup kitchens to respond to hunger in their communities at the same time that they will see the need increase as participants lose their benefits and turn to local charities to make ends meet.

"As if this isn't bad enough, Congress is considering capping the charitable giving deduction, which would have a significant impact on the ability of nonprofit organizations that rely on the charitable deduction to raise much needed funds and on Feeding America's ability to fulfill its mission of providing emergency food assistance."   Read the entire post at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/vicki-b-escarra/punishing-the-poor_1_b_869895.html?

If you agree with Ms. Escarra that the poor must not be punished, please contact members of Congress.

To contact your Representative, visit Contact Elected Officials.

More Food for Thought

SNAP/Food Stamps

Share of Population on Food Stamps Grows in Most States
The Wall Street Journal, May 31, 2011

http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2011/05/31/share-of-population-on-food-stamps-grows-in-most-states/?mod=google_news_blog

The share of residents turning to food stamps has risen in nearly every state nationwide in the past year even as unemployment has moderated.

After a temporary plateau in February, the number of Americans receiving food stamps ticked up again in March. Nearly 44.6 million received food stamps in March, up more than 11% from the same time a year ago, the Department of Agriculture said Tuesday

WIC

Federal Budget WIC Cuts Would Cost More in Long Run
Salon, May 25, 2011

http://www.salon.com/technology/how_the_world_works/2011/05/25/republican_disaster_economics

The budget proposal by the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee seeks to cut $800 million from the WIC Program.

Cut WIC now, notes this Salon editorial, and we’ll end up paying more later, “to take care of babies born underweight or kids sick because they didn’t get their proper immunizations.” WIC “provides nutritious foods, counseling on healthy eating, and health care referrals to roughly 9 million low-income pregnant and postpartum women, infants and children under age five who are at nutritional risk,” according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP).

These cuts, notes CPBB, would mean 325,000 to 475,000 eligible low-income women and young children would be turned away from the program next year. WIC not only helps low-income women and children, it also saves money. Every WIC dollar results in $1.77 to $3.13 in health care cost savings, according to USDA. It’s “profoundly irresponsible,” concludes the editorial, to scrimp now, as “we will inevitably pay more later.”

The SNAP Issue

The Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly Food Stamps, provides more food assistance to our most vulnerable citizens than any other program in the nation, including the national network of regional food banks. When federal funding for SNAP is reduced, regional food banks and their partner food pantries can be overwhelmed with requests for food assistance, especially during down economic times such as many families continue to face today.

Thus, it is of particular concern that the U.S. House of Representatives has voted to drastically cut funding for SNAP AND convert that funding into a block-grant for States to use as they choose.

How to Help

Your phone call, email or letter to your elected U.S. Representative voicing your concerns about this proposed legislation could make the difference in the coming weeks of debate on the federal budget.

For points about the success of SNAP in feeding hungry U.S. residents and the effects of the proposed funding cuts, see the letter by the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC). For more information about the proposed legislation, visit the FRAC Legislative Action Center and the U.S. House Appropriations Committee Newsroom.

To contact your Representative, visit Contact Elected Officials.

Individuals and groups are invited to communicate with their families, friends, neighbors, colleagues, state and congressional legislators about legislation and policies that help fight hunger in Texas.

On the state level, Tarrant Area Food Bank supports outreach to State Legislators and other elected officials by the Texas Food Bank Network. This network consists of the 18 regional food banks and one food rescue organization that are members of Feeding America, the national network of regional food banks and food rescue operations.