Child Nutrition Reauthorization

Three CNR Actions Needed: One Message

As Congress moves forward with the reauthorization process, it is critical that advocates continue to rally around a common message to press Congress to secure adequate funding - and the right mix of funding - for a robust Child Nutrition Reauthorization effort.

The White House, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) are all committed to finding additional funding - above the Senate Agriculture Committee-passed bill ($4.5 billion/10 years) and closer to President Obama's proposed $10 billion/10 years. The Child Nutrition Forum, a broad-based coalition that represents anti-hunger, nutrition, education, labor, children’s, civil rights, and other organizations, is asking its members to carry a “common message” in support of additional funding for Child Nutrition Reauthorization on both the House and Senate sides of the Hill.

Here are three actions you can take to urge your Members of Congress to invest additional funding to improve access to nutrition assistance for low-income children and achieve the goal of ending childhood hunger by 2015.

1. Ask your Representatives to sign on the “Dear Colleague” letter (pdf). This letter is being circulated by Representatives Jim McGovern (D-MA) and Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO). It urges Speaker Nancy Pelosi to help identify funding sources for the $1 billion per year funding increase that President Obama has proposed for Child Nutrition Reauthorization. See who's signed the letter (pdf).

2. Contact your members on the Senate Finance (pdf) and Agriculture (pdf) Committees and Senate leadership. Urge them to invest additional funding to improve access to nutrition assistance for low-income children and achieve the goal of ending childhood hunger by 2015. If your Senators are not on one of these target committees, you should still urge them to weigh in with committee members and leadership about the need for additional funding.

3. Contact your members on the House Education and Labor (pdf) and Ways and Means (pdf) Committees and House leadership. Urge them to work towards President Obama's commitment of $10 billion/10 years to improve access to nutrition assistance for low-income children.

Don’t forget to use this sign-on letter to highlight the broad support for additional investments program access priorities in your state.