The weekly Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) News Digest highlights what's new on hunger, nutrition and poverty issues at FRAC, at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, around the network of national, state and local anti-poverty and anti-hunger organizations, and in the media. The Digest will alert you to trends, reports, news items and resources and, when available, link you directly to them.

** Announcements **

• Registration still open! Register today for the 2005 National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference: "Preserving and Improving the Federal Nutrition Safety Net," February 27 - March 1, 2005; Washington, DC
» Go to agenda and online registration.

• The President's budget was released Monday, February 7, 2005.
» Go to FRAC analysis of the budget, including food stamp spending, and other budget-related materials.

Issue 6, February 11, 2005

1. Budget Should Remember the Vulnerable
2. Ag Secretary Johanns Speaks for President's Budget
3. Religious Group Fights President's Budget
4. California: Report Finds Fingerprinting and Other Barriers to Food Stamps
5. California: Inadequate Food for Nearly Half of Poor Immigrant Kids
6. Ohio: Food Aid Demand Growing
7. Connecticut: Need Goes Beyond Cities
8. Florida: Southwest Florida Food Stamp Use Outpaces State
9. Vermont: Food Stamps Bring Benefits to Economy and Schools
10. Wisconsin: Cost, Time, and Space Limit School Breakfast
11. Wisconsin: Eating Healthy Poses Challenge for Poor
12. Arizona: Immigrant Children Missing Services
13. Arizona: School Budgets Stay Healthy with Junk Food Ban

1. Budget Should Remember the Vulnerable

("Remember the Poor," Washington Post, February 7, 2005)

A Washington Post editorial says these are budgetary times that "try the nation's soul." A "reckless" tax cut to the wealthiest Americans has created a good portion of the current budget problem. The President's vow to halve the deficit in five years without raising taxes leaves programs for the most vulnerable Americans threatened. Housing vouchers, home heating aid, food stamps, and other programs face an uncertain future at a time when the latest data available show an increase in poverty, the number without health insurance was the highest on record, and more Americans went hungry. "A key test for lawmakers as the budget-writing process proceeds will be how the neediest are treated -- not whether they are lavished with government assistance but whether they endure a cruelly disproportionate share of the cuts that are to come."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A3594-2005Feb6.html

2. Ag Secretary Johanns Speaks for President's Budget

("Transcript of Remarks by Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns Regarding the President's FY 2006 Budget Proposal for USDA" U.S. Department of Agriculture, February 7, 2005)

Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns presented the President's FY 2006 budget proposal for the USDA. Secretary Johanns said it "fully funds the expected needs for WIC, Food Stamps, and School Lunch." He said all three programs are experiencing record levels of participation. The budget proposes $5.6 billion for WIC, to serve a projected 8.5 million participants. The budget includes a $125 million contingency fund should costs increase beyond the estimate. The President's proposal includes resources to fully fund estimated Food Stamp participation and also provides a $3 billion contingency fund should actual costs exceed the estimated level. School Lunch participation is estimated to reach 29.8 million children each day.

3. Religious Group Fights President's Budget

("American Friends Service Committee Warns Proposed Federal Budget Cuts Threaten Economic Health and Security for Millions of Americans," American Friends Service Committee, February 7, 2005)

The President's budget proposal met with criticism from the American Friends Service Committee. AFSC launched Save Our Services (SOS!), a campaign that supports a federal budget that strengthens programs vital to health and well-being. "Millions of Americans can't find jobs and millions of workers can't make ends meet because of low wages," says SOS! campaign director, Roberta Spivek. "As people of conscience, we cannot accept a budget that changes the rules governing Social Security, the tax code, and eligibility for basic services in ways that increase inequality and poverty."

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050207/nym235_1.html

Save our Services! website:
http://www.afsc.org/economic-justice/default.htm

4. California: Report Finds Fingerprinting and Other Barriers to Food Stamps

("Food stamp barriers exposed," Fresno Bee, February 4, 2005)

The use of fingerprinting and poor treatment of some clients by county employees are barriers to many Central Valley, California residents seeking food stamps, according to the report "Growing Health and Wealth." Also, immigrants fear applying and don't trust the government. In general, Finger Imaging is not reducing fraud and is not cost -effective. If everyone who was eligible for food stamps was enrolled in the program, $117 million in federal funds would flow into Fresno and Tulare counties. The report was written by Laura Tatum, a Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellow, and Dennis Barrett.

http://www.fresnobee.com/local/story/9891622p-10736732c.html

5. California: Inadequate Food for Nearly Half of Poor Immigrant Kids

("Valley Children of Immigrant Households Threatened by Hunger," Fresno State News, February 7, 2005)

Almost half of low-income immigrant households with children in the San Joaquin Valley were food insecure in 2001, according to "Hunger and Food Insecurity Among San Joaquin Valley Children in Immigrant Families." Food insecurity occurs when people do not have access to adequate food or enough money to buy food or access to food. The brief was published by the Central California Children’s Institute at California State University, Fresno and funded by The California Endowment. “The extent to which hunger is estimated among these families is startling and has severe implications for the health and development of children in our Valley,” explained Dr. Virginia Rondero Hernandez, lead author of the report. The report reveals that immigrant households are more likely to experience economic hardship, and are not likely to receive public benefits such as food stamps. It also underscored the urgency to create an easier application process to increase participation in food assistance programs.

http://www.fresnostatenews.com/2005/02/0207-hunger.htm

6. Ohio: Food Aid Demand Growing

("Region using more food aid," Cincinnati Enquirer, February 7, 2005)

The use of government food programs has risen sharply across southwest Ohio. Record numbers of low-income children in the Cincinnati region are eating free and reduced-price school meals, paid for by the federal government, according to a report by the Children's Hunger Alliance. Butler County now provides twice as much in food stamps as in July 2001. "Each month, when these figures come out, it continuously amazes us," said Jerome Kearns, of the county's Job and Family Services agency. Columbus-based non-profit Community Research Partners reported in late 2004 that one in four working parents in Ohio does not earn enough to meet their families' needs.

http://tinyurl.com/5g9pm

7. Connecticut: Need Goes Beyond Cities

("Library offers scarce info on food stamp program," New Britain Herald, February 8, 2005)

Wandick Mateo of the Connecticut Association for Human Services, is spreading information on assistance programs and services in communities outside Hartford. According to the social worker, while people in an urban area may know of aid programs and services, this information simply has not spread very far outside the cities. And many people do not realize they may be entitled to assistance. Mateo is targeting elderly people and working people with low wages, because even with a job, they can get some food stamps.

http://tinyurl.com/5lgjw

8. Florida: Southwest Florida Food Stamp Use Outpaces State

("Area sees rise in number of homes using food stamps," Bonita Daily News, February 6, 2005)

Food stamp use has been growing nationally as well as in Florida for the past 5 years. Last year the state had its biggest jump in participation. In Southwest Florida, the number of people in the program grew 25 percent, outpacing the state increase of 18 percent. The main reason is the rising number of people needing assistance. A shift from paper food stamps to an electronic benefit transfer card may also be responsible because the cards help eliminate stigma associated with paper stamps, says Mary Collins, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

9. Vermont: Food Stamps Bring Benefits to Economy and Schools

("Food stamp use on the rise 'Welfare' stigma remains," Barre Montpelier Times Argus, February 7, 2005)

Reneé Richardson, Vermont food and nutrition program chief, hails food stamps as a nutrition program, not a welfare program. They also strengthen the economy, she says. In 2004, because the federal funds have a multiplier effect on the state economy, $39.5 million in federal food stamp aid resulted in $72.8 million in Vermont's economy, according to Richardson. "Food Stamps Make America Strong" and "Eat Right When Money's Tight" are USDA slogans adorning Richardson's office walls. "Food stamps is a huge part of the safety net. It's the first line of defense against hunger," she says. Children do better in school when they're well-fed. A troubled economy, coupled with educational outreach and rules changes, has increased the number of people receiving food stamps. Participants now receive benefits on an electronic debit card instead of paper coupons. "Anna" receives benefits for herself and her son on the card, but still worries about stigma. Jim Harrison, president of the Vermont Grocers' Association in Rutland, says he thinks other customers are none-the-wiser. "The card really is no different than any type of payment," Harrison says, praising the electronic card.

10. Wisconsin: Cost, Time, and Space Limit School Breakfast

("Debatable -- Should Wisconsin have mandatory school breakfast," Journal Times Online, February 8, 2005)

In 26 states, state law requires many schools, particularly low-income schools, to offer breakfast. Wisconsin has no such mandate. It also ranks among the bottom five states in number of children served in the school breakfast program according to the Food Research and Action Center. Breakfast programs help low-income students do better in school. Illinois, which also ranks in the bottom five states, is considering a school breakfast legislative mandate. Schools that choose not to serve breakfast do so for a variety of reasons, including difficulty finding space, the expense of supervision and challenges squeezing in breakfast before school.

http://www.journaltimes.com/articles/2005/02/08/local/iq_3368479.txt

11. Wisconsin: Eating Healthy Poses Challenge for Poor

("Food Costs Trump Food Guidelines," Wisconsin State Journal, February 5, 2005)

Former Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson said that "cost is not a determiner of whether or not you eat properly...low-income individuals should be able to have a very balanced diet." But the statement misunderstands the circumstances that low-income families face. Federal food stamp assistance is low -- the average food stamp benefit is less than 90 cents per meal, according to the Food Research and Action Center. A survey of food pantry clients in Missouri found 50 percent choose between feeding themselves and feeding their children every month. Cash-strapped families may live in motel rooms, or have only a small refrigerator and microwave. And, a study in the October 2004 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine concluded that a higher number of fast food restaurants in black and low-income neighborhoods may contribute to the environmental causes of the obesity epidemic in these populations. Food banks and pantries have few donations of produce.

http://tinyurl.com/53war

12. Arizona: Immigrant Children Missing Services

("Migrants' kids missing out," Arizona Republic, February 8, 2005)

Millions of young children of immigrants may be eligible for a variety of benefits like food stamps and health insurance, but their parents do not apply for fear of being deported, says a new study by the Urban Institute. The study's authors, using 2000 Census data, found that more than one in five young children under age 6, about 22 percent, or 5.1 million children nationwide, live with at least one foreign-born parent. The states with the fastest-growing population of children of immigrants between 1990 and 2000 were North Carolina, Nebraska, Arkansas, Nevada, Georgia, Iowa, Tennessee, Oregon, Colorado and Idaho. In Arizona, the recent passage of Protect Arizona Now has further scared immigrant parents from applying for benefits for their U.S.-born children, even though their children may be entitled to them. The ballot measure, intended to ensure undocumented immigrants don't receive state benefits, requires state workers to report undocumented immigrants who apply for certain benefits to federal immigration officials.

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/0208immigrant-kids.html

13. Arizona: School Budgets Stay Healthy with Junk Food Ban

("Schools get by without junk food," Arizona Republic, February 1, 2005)

Schools can make as much money selling healthy foods as they can selling foods full of sugar and fat, according to a nutrition study by the Arizona Department of Education. The five-month study examined eight schools that tested a ban on soft drinks and junk food during the school day, and the financial impact of the move. The schools substituted healthier snacks such as crackers and honey-roasted peanuts for high-calorie, low-nutrient snacks and soda. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne is expected to announce his support of a pending bill that would ban soft drinks in schools and offer healthier food at snack bars and in vending machines.

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/0201junk01.html

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