View Report Center for Civil Justice (MI)

(Washington, D.C.) June 4, 2007 – Federal nutrition programs continue to reach millions of Americans who face a constant struggle against hunger, yet many millions of others with great need still slip through the nation’s nutrition safety net. This continuing shortfall should spur Congress to seize opportunities, particularly this year’s reauthorization of the Farm Bill, to make a stronger investment in federal nutrition programs, according to the Food Research and Action Center’s 2007 State of the States.

Compiled annually by the Food Research and Action Center, FRAC’s State of the States provides a comprehensive snapshot of hunger, poverty, and use of federal nutrition programs nationally and in each state. The report includes detailed information on the extent of hunger, participation in eight federal nutrition programs, and economic data for all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

“The recent Food Stamp Challenges by members of Congress, the Governor of Oregon, and other leaders, living for a week on a typical food stamp allotment, have dramatically underlined the struggles facing low-income Americans in trying to obtain adequate nutrition. The coming reauthorization of the Farm Bill presents us with an important opportunity,” said Jim Weill, FRAC President. “New investments in food stamps to strengthen this critical program are essential.”

Key findings from the 2007 State of the States include:

• In FY 2004, only 60 percent of those eligible for food stamps were receiving them – an increase of four percent from the previous year, but still too low. Only 51 percent of members of eligible working families are participating.
• Participation in summer nutrition programs remains flat. Over the past ten years, participation barely increased – up only 0.5 percent.
• More children – and more schools – are participating in the School Breakfast Program. While participation in breakfast lags behind participation in lunch, schools continue successful strategies to add children by making breakfast part of the school day.
• While more child care centers participate in the Child and Adult Food Care Program, fewer family child care homes are taking advantage of the program. It’s a staggering difference: child care centers increased food program participation by 39.4 percent, while family-run care dropped by 25.2 percent over the same 10-year period.

Outlook / Next Steps
The Farm Bill presents an opportunity to strengthen the Food Stamp Program by increasing monthly benefits, expanding access to the program, and simplifying the program. Proposals to do just that have been introduced in Congress.

“With the Farm Bill, we can improve access to the Food Stamp Program and make sure that struggling families have more adequate resources to put food on the table,” said Weill. “With 35 million Americans facing a constant struggle against hunger, Congress should not pass on this opportunity to improve the Food Stamp Program.”

Congress also is considering proposals that would boost participation in the Summer Food Program by expanding nationwide, from the current 26 states, a Simplified Summer Food Program which reduces red tape for child serving sites to participate. The simplified program is a proven success. States with the simplified program have seen an increase in summer participation, while other states have watched their numbers drop.

About the report
FRAC’s State of the States contains the latest data from official government sources. The federal nutrition programs covered are: Food Stamps, School Lunch, School Breakfast, Summer Food, the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), WIC, The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), and the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP). The report also details economic and social indicators such as food insecurity, poverty, and minimum wage levels

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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.

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