Updated July 28, 2004

CFNP Appropriations for FY2005

Background:
The Community Food and Nutrition Program (CFNP) is the primary source of federal funding for anti-hunger and nutrition advocacy groups at the local, state, and national level. Funding is provided in the Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations bill, and provides critical seed money for a range of local and state projects to alleviate hunger and restore millions of Americans to food self-sufficiency.

The Senate Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Subcommittee is currently in the process of developing their funding priorities for the upcoming fiscal year. At an appropriation of $10 million, eleven small states (AK, DE, HI, MT, NH, ND, NV, RI, SD, VT and WY) are guaranteed minimum grants of $20,000, or $30,000 when the total appropriation reaches $15 million (At $7 million the minimum grants are $15,000). The current FY2004 CFNP funding level was set at $7.28 million.

With the recent passage of the Child Nutrition Reauthorization legislation (S. 2507), there are great opportunities for the expansion of programs, and thus, the potential to target and reach more eligible hungry children. However, at the current level of CFNP funding, state and local groups are limited in their ability to reach all those in need.

• CFNP fact sheet and background information

Action Needed:
The appropriation process is currently under way; the House Appropriations Subcommittee mark-up took place on July 8, 2004. The bill passed through the House Subcommittee with no funding for CFNP. Meanwhile, on the Senate side, subcommittee action on all appropriations bills is delayed until the fall. In September, when Congress returns from recess, Senate leaders and key appropriators are likely to offer an omnibus spending package that will encompass all individual appropriations bills.

It is extremely important that you contact your Senator on the Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Subcommittee, urging them to support a CFNP funding level of at least $10 million for FY2005. If you do not have a Senator on the Subcommittee, urge your members to weigh-in on this issue with those Senators on the Subcommittee.

E-mail, fax, or call to express your views. Do NOT send through the U.S. Mail (all mail is irradiated, creating a delay in delivery). A sample letter is below to assist and expedite communication with your Senator.

Target Senators on Senate Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Subcommittee:
Sen. Arlen Specter (Chairman) (R-PA)
Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS)
Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH)
Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX)
Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID)
Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK)
Sen. Mike DeWine (R-OH)
Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL)

Sen. Tom Harkin (Ranking Member) (D-IA)
Sen. Ernest Hollings (D-SC)
Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-HI)
Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV)
Sen. Herb Kohl (D-WI)
Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA)
Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA)

• For contact information of these Senators and their staff, click here.
• For email contact information, click here.

SAMPLE LETTER

YOUR ORGANIZATION'S LETTERHEAD

The Honorable (INSERT NAME)
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator ____________:

We are writing to urge you to support $10 million for the Community Food and Nutrition Program (CFNP) in the FY2005 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations bill. This funding level is a critical investment in this small, yet potent program. CFNP has been instrumental in providing seed money for a range of state and local efforts to combat hunger and malnutrition. We also urge you to ensure that funding does not drop below the FY2004 level of $7.28 million.

With the recent passage of the Child Nutrition Reauthorization legislation (S. 2507), there are great opportunities for the expansion of nutrition programs, and thus, the potential to target and reach more eligible hungry children. Under CFNP, funds are authorized to assist low-income communities in identifying potential sponsors of child nutrition programs and initiating new programs in under-served or unserved areas, develop innovative approaches at the state and local levels to meet the nutritional needs of low-income people, and coordinate existing private and public food-assistance resources. However, at the current level of CFNP funding, state and local groups are limited in their ability to reach all those who require assistance.

(INSERT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR PAST, PRESENT, or FUTURE CFNP GRANT).

A CFNP appropriation of $10 million would ensure that community-based anti-hunger groups like (INSERT YOUR ORGANIZATION'S NAME HERE) will have the funding necessary to make a profound impact of the lives of children and families in need. We hope that you will support CFNP funding that gives organizations like ours the ability to reduce hunger in our community.

Sincerely,

(Your Name)

Click here for FRAC's Child Nutrition Reauthorization website.

Factsheets on Child Nutrition Programs School Breakfast  |  School Lunch  |  Afterschool  |  Summer Food Women, Infants, and Children  |  Child and Adult Care Food Program

Prepared by the Food Research & Action Center, 1875 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20009; 202-986-2200; www.frac.org