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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.
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Issue 10, March 5, 2004

1. Action Alert: Child Nutrition Bill Headed to the House Floor
2. Food Stamp Participation Increases in December 2003 to More Than 23.3 Million Persons; Is More Than 6.4 Million Persons Higher Than in July 2000
3. Fair Taxes for All Coalition Letter to Congress Opposing President Bush's Proposal to Make Taxm Cuts Permanent
4. Report: Proposed Senate Budget Would Cut Taxes for the Wealthiest, Cut Domestic Programs, While Increasing Deficits
5. USDA Launches Radio Advertisements for the "Food Stamps Make America Stronger" Campaign
6. GAO Report: Encourages Better Tracking of Food Stamp Program Outreach Efforts
7. National School Breakfast Week is March 8th to 12th
8. The Paradox of Poverty and Obesity: As Access to Healthy Food Decreases, Overweight Among Farm Workers Increases
9. Leona Martens, Director of Weld Food Bank, Wins Dick Goebel Public Service Award at FRAC/A2H/CACFP Forum Conference
10. More Than 100 California Schools Offer Free Breakfast to All Students
11. Almost 50 Percent of Rural Appalachian Households With Children Enrolled in Head Start Experience Food Insecurity
12. New York Food Stamp Program Help Lines Are Outsourced Internationally
13. In New York City, Elderly Survivors of Nazism Rely on Food Stamps, Other Assistance

1. ACTION ALERT: CHILD NUTRITION BILL HEADED TO THE HOUSE FLOOR

(FRAC Alert, March 4, 2004)

On March 4th, the House Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Education Reform deliberated and reported out H.R. 3873, "The Child Nutrition Improvement and Integrity Act." The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Michael Castle (R-DE), is expected to be passed by the full committee next week and brought to the House floor for a vote soon after. Key provisions in the legislation that are of particular interest to anti-hunger advocates include: continuation of and improvements to the three child nutrition program provisions scheduled to expire on March 31, 2004, including the Lugar summer food pilots; changes to application certification and verification in the National School Lunch Program, but with no proposed increase in the absolute number of applications to be verified; and in universal breakfast, allowing Provisions 2 and 3 to be operated on a district-wide basis, rather than school by school. For additional details click on the link to the FRAC alert below:

http://www.frac.org/html/federal_food_programs/cnreauthor/cnalert030404.htm

For the House Committee on Education and the Workforce press release:
http://edworkforce.house.gov/press/press108/second/03mar/childnutintro030304.htm

2. FOOD STAMP PARTICIPATION INCREASES IN DECEMBER 2003 TO MORE THAN 23.3 MILLION PERSONS; IS MORE THAN 6.4 MILLION PERSONS HIGHER THAN IN JULY 2000

(March 5, 2004)

Participation in the Food Stamp Program in December 2003 (the latest data available) increased by 287,463 persons from the previous month, to 23,313,767 persons. Some of this increase was due to continuing high rates of joblessness, states improving access, and the effects of the food stamp reauthorization implementation. Some of the fluctuation in participation rates over the past two months was due to the recipients of Hurricane Isabel disaster relief in the fall of 2003. The December 2003 level of Food Stamp Program participation represented a rise of almost 2.8 million persons compared to the December 2002 level and more than 6.4 million persons since July, 2000 (when program participation nationally reached its lowest point in the last decade).

http://www.frac.org/html/news/fsp/03dec.html

3. FAIR TAXES FOR ALL COALITION LETTER TO CONGRESS OPPOSING PRESIDENT BUSH'S PROPOSAL TO MAKE TAX CUTS PERMANENT

(Fair Taxes for All coalition, March 3, 2004)

The Fair Taxes for All coalition has written to Congress opposing President Bush's proposal to make the recent tax cuts permanent. The coalition represents more then 325 groups. The letter states that the coalition "vigorously opposes the tax-cut driven economic policies proposed in the President's Fiscal Year 2005 budget." The letter points out that the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts created few of the jobs they were intended to create, and at the same time largely benefitted large corporations and higher-income people. The full cost of the tax cuts, including making them permanent and continuing relief for the alternative minimum tax, would be more than $2 trillion over the next ten years. In addition, if the tax cuts were made permanent, millionaires would receive average annual tax cuts of $125,000 --an amount that exceeds the annual income of 90 percent of tax filers.

http://www.fairtaxes4all.org/site/apps/nl/newsletter2.asp?c=apIIIWMLG&b=11173

4. REPORT: PROPOSED SENATE BUDGET WOULD CUT TAXES FOR THE WEALTHIEST, CUT DOMESTIC PROGRAMS, WHILE INCREASING DEFICITS

(Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, March 4, 2004)

The proposed Senate budget would cut taxes on the wealthiest, raise taxes on the poorest workers, cut most domestic discretionary program areas, and very likely increase the ranks of those without health insurance. The proposal would exacerbate, rather than reduce, deficits. The resolution would very likely lead to increases in the number of people without health insurance by requiring cuts in Medicaid. It also would raise taxes and reduce benefits for low-income workers by cutting the Earned Income Tax Credit. Under the resolution, funding for domestic discretionary programs outside homeland security would be cut by $113 billion over five years, compared with the 2004 level adjusted for inflation. It also would provide tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans by accelerating repeal of the estate tax and making permanent the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts. The budget plan would add more than $200 billion to projected deficits over the next five years.

http://www.cbpp.org/3-4-04bud.htm

5. USDA LAUNCHES RADIO ADVERTISEMENTS FOR THE "FOOD STAMPS MAKE AMERICA STRONGER" CAMPAIGN

(USDA Press Release, March 1, 2004)

U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman announced that English and Spanish language radio messages began airing in March as part of the "Food Stamps Make America Stronger" national media campaign. The radio messages highlight the nutrition assistance benefits available through the Food Stamp Program for low-income individuals, children and families. "The Food Stamp Program provides a great opportunity to teach people about healthy eating," said Veneman. The program serves more than 23 million people, which is about 60 percent of the total who are eligible. The radio campaign will educate to eligible families about the benefits available to them.

http://www.usda.gov/Newsroom/0087.04.html

see also FRAC's press release that includes transcripts of the radio spots and a list of media markets where spots will air:
http://www.frac.org/html/news/022604FSPradio.htm

6. GAO REPORT: ENCOURAGES BETTER TRACKING OF FOOD STAMP PROGRAM OUTREACH EFFORTS

(Government Accounting Office, March 2004)

The GAO report, "Food Stamp Program: Steps Have Been Taken to Increase Participation of Working Families, but Better Tracking of Efforts Is Needed," included contacts with national level government officials and non-profit stakeholders as well as site visits to meet with state-level officials and advocates in Florida, Massachusetts, New York, and Oregon. The report discusses outreach grants, media efforts and other USDA initiatives; points to American Public Human Services Association, FRAC, and Nutrition Consortium of New York State as sources for information on outreach and best practices; and highlights examples from campaigns operated by the Community Food Resource Center in New York City and the Human Services Coalition of Dade County in Miami. GAO's recommendations for USDA's Food and Nutrition Service are to "(1) encourage states to collect and report on the results of their outreach and other efforts to increase participation among eligible working families and (2) disseminate the lessons learned from those efforts to other states and localities."

http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d04346high.pdf

7. NATIONAL SCHOOL BREAKFAST WEEK IS MARCH 8TH TO 12TH

(PR Newswire, March 3, 2004)

Events have been planned nationwide to celebrate National School Breakfast Week during the second week of March. Celebrations will include guest speakers, activities, decorated lunchrooms and breakfast menus featuring special items. The week will be used to highlight the importance of a good, nutritious breakfast to start a student's day at school. National School Breakfast Week was created by the American School Food Service Association (ASFSA) in 1989 to raise awareness about the availability of breakfast for all students at school and draw attention to the link between eating a good breakfast and cognitive growth. Research establishes that "students who eat breakfast are more alert, have improved memory and problem-solving skills and perform better on standardized tests," said Donna Wittrock, SFNS, president ASFSA.

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040303/dcw053_1.html

8. THE PARADOX OF POVERTY AND OBESITY: AS ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD DECREASES, OVERWEIGHT AMONG FARM WORKERS INCREASES

(Corvallis Gazette-Times, Corvallis, OR, March 4, 2004)

The relationship between hunger and obesity for low-income people in a nation where food is seen as plentiful and cheap seems contradictory, but as reliable access to healthy food declines, the likelihood of being overweight increases. For low-wage farm workers in the Central Valley of California, they often have no time to cook, little money to purchase the fresh vegetables they pick, and a long walk to the nearest grocery store with a good produce section. Local convenience stores offer an array of processed foods that are high in sugars and fats. "We have been pretending that it is easy to replace a diet of soft drinks and fast food with home-cooked meals, fresh fruits and vegetables," said Adam Drewnowski, a University of Washington epidemiology professor who has studied the problem. "The message has been to blame people --'you're not choosing well, you're not educated enough.' We forget there are people whose choices are severely limited by finances and time allocation."

http://www.gazettetimes.com/articles/2004/03/04/news/nation/thunat02.txt

9. LEONA MARTENS, DIRECTOR OF WELD FOOD BANK, WINS DICK GOEBEL PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD AT FRAC/A2H/CACFP FORUM CONFERENCE

(Greeley Tribune, Greeley, CO, 2004)

Leona Martens, director of the Weld Food Bank, received the Dick Goebel Public Service Award for her accomplishments at the food bank and at the state level, including the distribution of food stamps. The award has been given to one deserving person each of the past three years at the FRAC-America's Second Harvest-National CACFP Forum annual national policy conference in Washington, D.C.

http://gr.us.publicus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2004102280047

10. MORE THAN 100 CALIFORNIA SCHOOLS OFFER FREE BREAKFAST TO ALL STUDENTS

(Fresno Bee, Fresno, CA, February 19, 2004)

In California, 133 schools offer universal breakfast programs in the classroom that officials say bring in money, boost academics and reduce tardiness, absences, behavior referrals and visits to the nurse's office. In the central San Joaquin Valley, 20 schools offer free breakfast during class. In the Fresno school district, the largest in the valley, free breakfast is only available before school. At Fresno schools, participation in free breakfast programs is lower than in districts that offer meals in the classroom. In addition, every day at every school students are sent to the cafeteria in midmorning complaining of hunger, according to Billie Richardson, the district's food-service director. Fresno school district officials cite logistical obstacles to offering breakfast in the classroom, but officials at other schools argue that the California Teachers Association supports classroom meals and the West Fresno School District simply added 15 minutes to the school day in order to offer the meal during class time.

http://www.fresnobee.com/local/story/8137716p-8991361c.html

11. ALMOST 50 PERCENT OF RURAL APPALACHIAN HOUSEHOLDS WITH CHILDREN ENROLLED IN HEAD START EXPERIENCE FOOD INSECURITY

(Athens News, Athens, OH, March 4, 2004)

Rural Appalachian households with children enrolled in the Head Start Program experience food insecurity at rates that are three times the national average for households with children. According to Ohio University researcher David Holben, 48.8 percent of the Head Start households he surveyed were food insecure. In addition, 30.3 percent of the households had experienced hunger, which is more severe than food insecurity, in the previous 12 months. "This means that even though children are receiving nutritious lunches and snacks through this program, families in rural Appalachia still are worrying or concerned about being able to secure food for their household," said Holben The results were published in the February issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association. Holben's research also shows that food insecure households often suffer emotional and health problems, sometimes must choose between food and medicine, and experience obesity because they tend to buy inexpensive, high-calorie food. Holben recommends increasing access to public transportation and help in increasing their consumption of fruits and vegetables.

http://www.athensnews.com/issue/article.php3?story_id=15938

for the abstract from the American Dietetic Association:
http://www.adajournal.org/scripts/om.dll/serve?
action=searchDB&searchDBfor=art&artType=abs&id=as000282230301366x&nav=abs

12. NEW YORK FOOD STAMP PROGRAM HELP LINES ARE OUTSOURCED INTERNATIONALLY

(New York Newsday, New York, NY, March 4, 2004)

Add New York advocates and officials to those with a growing concern about outsourcing among help desks for public assistance programs. New York and more than 30 states use private contractors, who use foreign-based help desks to answer questions, to administer their Food Stamp Program. "It is unconscionable to send state-funded jobs overseas in the face of the staggering number of unemployed New Yorkers," says Richard Murphy executive director of Community Food Resource Center. A state government spokesman confirmed that the issue would be part of negotiations for the next contract for service delivery. This article also includes an online reader opinion poll that asks the question: "Should food stamps customer assistance jobs be located overseas if they keep the cost of the programs down?"

http://www.newsday.com/business/ny-bzout0305,0,6316471.story

13. IN NEW YORK CITY, ELDERLY SURVIVORS OF NAZISM RELY ON FOOD STAMPS, OTHER ASSISTANCE

(Jewish Week, New York, NY, February 27, 2004)

In New York City, elderly Jewish survivors of Nazism face poverty in Brooklyn's Russian community. While the low-income former Soviets have great praise for America and the religious freedom they have enjoyed here, many also feel a mix of resentment and resignation at the poverty that forces them to scramble for basic necessities and at the uniformed judgements some Americans make about them. Says one "it hurts that many Americans think we take advantage of the system. They say things like, 'Look, that woman is wearing a fur coat and gets food stamps,' not realizing that she brought the coat from Russia and it is likely the only one she has. They don't understand how difficult it is for us."

http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/newscontent.php3?artid=9135

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Ben Winter
Food Research and Action Center
1875 Connecticut Avenue, NW Suite 540
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 986-2200 x3019 phone
(202) 986-2525 fax
Email: bwinter@frac.org