Washington, D.C. – More than 1,000 organizations joined the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) in supporting a strong nutrition title in this year’s Farm Bill reauthorization, particularly to strengthen and improve access to the Food Stamp Program. The letter, based on a joint statement released by the coalition of National Anti-Hunger Organizations, was presented during today’s Senate hearing on federal nutrition programs.

“If we want to take a serious step toward ending hunger in the U.S., we should give people more resources to purchase food. Benefit levels must be increased to actually let families obtain an adequate diet,” said Jim Weill, FRAC president. “We also must ensure that arbitrary barriers to eligibility – like unreasonable asset tests – are eliminated, and those who are eligible for food stamps get them. There are too many people waiting in lines at food banks that could be receiving food stamp benefits to help them purchase groceries.”

The groups outlined the following key investments to be made:

• Provide people with more resources to purchase food by increasing the monthly food stamp benefit. Currently, the average food stamp benefit level is $1 per person per meal.

• Expand access to the program by making sure that people in need of food stamps get them. Those people in need of food but excluded from the Food Stamp Program include working poor families with savings slightly above decades-old and outdated resource limits, many legal immigrants, and numerous indigent jobless people seeking employment.

• Simplify and streamline the program for both caseworkers and clients. Outreach and education efforts are making important advances, but they need more resources. And, enrollments are hampered by shortfalls in state technology and supports.

In 2002, the last time that the Farm Bill was revisited, the nutrition title reauthorized the Food Stamp Program for five years, restored food stamp eligibility for many legal immigrants, and made other program improvements.

“The Food Stamp Program is the nation’s first defense against hunger. We saw how the program responded immediately and effectively in the wake of the 2005 hurricane season,” said Weill. “It’s proven to assist those in need. Indeed, the National Journal listed food stamps as a case study in effective government aid. Now we have the opportunity before us to make it an even stronger program to address hunger.”

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The Food Research and Action Center (www.frac.org) is the leading national organization working for more effective public and private policies to eradicate domestic hunger and undernutrition.