Given the recent news that the number of Americans who go hungry over the course of the year has hit an all time high since the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) started keeping statistics on this subject in 1995, yesterday’s Senate Agriculture Committee hearing on reauthorizing the Child Nutrition Act was quite timely.“The Household Food Security in the U.S.” report found that “in 2008, 17 million households, or 14.6 percent were food insecure and families had difficulty putting enough food on the table at times during the year.” The USDA reports that this represents an 11 percent increase from 2007 levels.
For Senate Agriculture Chairman Blanche Lincoln (AR), these numbers are not acceptable, and highlighted the need to have strong federal food assistance programs. The Chairman issued this statement when the report came out on Tuesday, one the eve of the committee hearing on the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act:
“The 2008 food insecurity report released today by the United States Department of Agriculture is a sobering reminder that there are tens of millions of Americans struggling through one of the worst economic recessions in recent memory. My home state of Arkansas has been especially hard hit and now has the third highest rate of hunger in the country. The unprecedented increase in the number of Americans experiencing hunger or at risk of hunger underscores the critical importance of federal food assistance programs and the need for Congress to undertake the reauthorization of federal child nutrition programs with a strong focus on increasing program access and improving nutritional quality.”
Prior to the hearing on the Hill, Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Saxby Chambliss issued this statement highlighting the reliance on the federal food stamp program, called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP),
“Due to the current economic downturn, we are seeing unprecedented levels of participation in federal nutrition programs . . . Over 36 million people are currently participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) each month. In Georgia, we’ve seen participation increase to over 1.4 million individuals, which is almost 15 percent of the state’s population. The fact that SNAP can swiftly serve those in need highlights one of the program’s key features – it can easily expand and contract as economic conditions change.”
Featured in the hearing on Tuesday was USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, as well as several food security experts from Arkansas.
In her opening statement Chairman Lincoln pointed out three areas where she believes improvements can be made. First, Lincoln pointed out the need to ensure all eligible children are actually participating in federal child nutrition programs, like free and reduced-price school lunches. Additionally, Lincoln stressed the need to improve the nutritional value of meals served through these federal programs. Finally, the Chairman also stressed the need to modernize the programs, pointing out that the SNAP program now provides benefits electronically.
During his testimony, Secretary Vilsack, according to reporting from Tom Karst of The Packer online, argued for regulation of all foods sold in schools, not just school lunches and breakfasts. ‘“Not only should USDA establish improved nutrition standards for school meals, but we should set national standards for all food sold in schools, including in the á la carte lines and in vending machines, to ensure that they too contribute to a healthy diet,”’ Vilsack said.
Hunger and child nutrition have always been important to the Chairman, and with the authorizing legislation set to expire next year, you can be sure the issue will stay on the Committee agenda.
To see a re-broadcast of the hearing, click here.
To read the Karst story click here.
To read the USDA news release on the hearing and Vilsack’s statements, click here.
To read Chairman Lincoln’s opening statement click here.
To read Senator Chambliss’ press release issued before the hearing click here.
Posted: 11/18/09
