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.

1. Rep. James P. McGovern Calls for Investing Additional Resources in Anti-Hunger Programs
2. Agriculture Secretary Discusses President’s Farm Bill Nutrition Proposals
3. Commentary: Lawmakers Should Set “Moral Budget” that Prioritizes the Poor, Protects Critical Programs and Increases Aid
4. Economy Is Growing But Only Few Benefit, Study Says
5. Connecticut: Human Services and Anti-Hunger Workers Express Support for Food Stamps and Other Nutrition Programs
6. North Carolina: Food Stamp Participation Up Sharply
7. California: Santa Clara County Starts Pilot Program to Streamline Food Stamp Application Process for Homeless and Working Poor
8. Vermont Kicks Off First Annual Hunger Conference
9. Op-Ed – Vermont: When Every Child Has Proper Nutrition, All Vermonters Benefit
10. Virginia: Henrico County Schools to Resume School Lunch Program
11. Washington: School Students Eat More Fruits and Vegetables and Drink Less Pop, Survey Says
12. Massachusetts: Schools Take Big Steps to Improve Student’s Nutrition
13. Washington: Tumwater School District Launches Nutrition Label Program to Encourage Healthier Choices in School Cafeteria
14. Pennsylvania – Editorial: State EITC Can Help End Poverty

1. Rep. James P. McGovern Calls for Investing Additional Resources in Anti-Hunger Programs

(House Congressional Record of March 28, 2007, frwebgate1.access.gpo.gov, March 28, 2007)

“The decision to tolerate hunger in America has serious costs for us as a nation,” stated Rep. James McGovern, D-Mass., in his remarks in support of the Rule for the Consideration of H. Con. Res. 99, concurrent the Budget Resolution for FY2008. “This Budget Resolution – by providing a $20 billion reserve fund for the Farm Bill and by rejecting the President’s arbitrary eligibility cuts to Food Stamps and the elimination of the Commodity Supplemental Food Program – not only makes a strong statement on the need to combat hunger in America, it actually takes concrete steps to do so,” said McGovern. “Food Stamp benefits … are too meager to solve the problem, he said, and are missing four in every ten eligible people. McGovern called it “unconscionable” that the programs proven to combat hunger are “continually under attack.” He urged lawmakers to invest additional resources in the next Farm Bill, needed to improve anti-hunger programs. “It should improve the food stamp benefit, open eligibility to vulnerable and underserved groups, and adequately fund and fully utilize USDA resources to support emergency food assistance and other commodity assistance programs that serve the needy.”

http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getpage.cgi?position=all&page=H3194&dbname=2007_record

2. Agriculture Secretary Discusses President’s Farm Bill Nutrition Proposals

(“Johanns Discusses USDA Nutrition Goals During National Nutrition Month,” usda.gov, March 26, 2007)

Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns spoke on the Bush Administration’s Farm Bill nutrition proposals that would spend $467 million more than current programs. “We recommend increasing program access for the working poor and elderly, moving America toward healthier eating habits, and making more effective use of taxpayer dollars, said Johanns. “We will make certain our eligibility rules support both work and education wherever that is possible. We also want to improve our administration of the Food Stamp Program, strengthen its integrity, and finally rename it to reflect the changes that time and technology have brought since its inception in 1964,” the secretary said. The Administration proposes to exclude education savings accounts, retirement savings accounts, dependent care expenses, and combat pay from eligibility determination for food stamps. It also proposes to strengthen efforts to integrate nutrition education into the Food Stamp Program and invest $100 million to establish a five-year competitive grants demonstration program that fights the rising rates of obesity. The proposals include new mandatory funding for the purchase of additional fruits and vegetables for use in the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs.

http://tinyurl.com/2xa6r7

3. Commentary: Lawmakers Should Set “Moral Budget” that Prioritizes the Poor, Protects Critical Programs and Increases Aid

(“Prioritize the Poor,” huffingtonpost.com, March 28, 2007)

Sojourners/Call to Renewal, a national network of churches, faith-based organizations, and individuals working to overcome poverty in America, “joined many other advocates in asking the Senate to take a step toward a moral budget,” writes Jim Wallis, president and executive director of Sojourners/Call to Renewal. In his letter, Wallis requested senators to “make sure to prioritize poor and working families, children, and the elderly as you determine where our nation commits its energies and resources.” He asked for $15 billion in new spending for the Farm Bill to strengthen the Food Stamp Program and ensure that all eligible families receive increased support. The recent Senate’s budget resolution allocated this amount to “strengthen our agriculture and rural economies and critical nutrition programs” under the Farm Bill. “Much more work is needed to make sure that those funds are actually directed to those who need them most, but this is a step forward,” Wallis observes. “Our nation needs the affirmation that budgets are moral documents, and we need our leaders to commit to that vision in order to recover some of our nation’s greatness; greatness that comes from empowering families, protecting the common good, and acting upon the needs of “the least of these” among us,” he writes.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jim-wallis/prioritize-the-poor_b_44447.html?view=print

4. Economy Is Growing But Only Few Benefit, Study Says

(“Income Gap Is Widening, Data Shows,” nytimes.com, March 29, 2007)

The top 300,000 Americans enjoyed almost as much income as the bottom 150 million Americans, according to an analysis of new data from the Internal Revenue Service by economist Emmanuel Saez, Prof. of the University of California, and Prof. Thomas Piketty of the Paris School of Economics. Income inequality grew significantly in 2005, the analysis showed, with the top 10 percent, those who earn more than $100,000, reaching a level of income share not seen since before the Depression. In terms of personal income, the top group received 440 times as much as the average person in the bottom half earned. “If the economy is growing but only a few are enjoying the benefits, it goes to our sense of fairness,” Professor Saez said. “It can have important political consequences.” Robert Greenstein of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities said that the data understate the widening disparity between the top 1 percent and the rest of the country. “That such a large share of the income gains are going to the very top, at a minimum, raises serious questions about continuing to provide tax cuts averaging over $150,000 a year to people making more than a million dollars a year, while saying we do not have enough money” to provide health insurance to 47 million Americans and cutting education benefits.

http://tinyurl.com/2wy5nl

5. Connecticut: Human Services and Anti-Hunger Workers Express Support for Food Stamps and Other Nutrition Programs

(“Speakers Push Nutrition Programs in Session with DeLauro,” nhregister.com, March 27, 2007)

Programs like food stamps and the Senior Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program need to be preserved, protected and improved, said speaker after speaker at a meeting with U.S. Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro, D-Conn., and other officials in Hamden, Conn. The event was co-sponsored by the Connecticut Association for Human Services and End Hunger Connecticut! About 75 people involved with human services, food and anti-hunger programs throughout the state came to discuss the importance of nutrition programs funded under the federal Farm Bill, which is up for reauthorization. Many participants called for an increase in food stamp benefits, saying that the $10 monthly minimum is not enough for low-income single senior citizens. DeLauro, who is chairwoman of the House agriculture appropriations subcommittee, said that government was “morally responsible” for feeding the hungry. “It’s unacceptable to cut back on the nutrition part of this [Farm Bill] legislation,” DeLauro said.

http://tinyurl.com/26vcna

6. North Carolina: Food Stamp Participation Up Sharply

(“Food Stamps Usage Way Up,” newsobserver.com, March 24, 2007)

The number of food stamp households in the Raleigh-Durham area in North Carolina, also known as the Triangle, has risen sharply since 2000. Participation in food stamps has doubled in Wake and Orange counties and surged by 90 percent in Durham after holding steady or dropping in the late 1990s. A rise in population and changes to the Food Stamp Program that allowed more people to sign up for assistance have contributed to the increase. Nancy Coston, the Orange County director of social services, said the sharp increases also could signal a widening gap between the county’s haves and have-nots. Sammy Haithcock, Durham County’s director of social services, pointed out to rising medical and child care costs, cutting into family budgets. The increase in food stamp usage also reflects the state efforts to boost program participation. “It’s filling a need,” commented Jane Schwartz of the state Department of Health and Human Services. “We want kids to have full bellies.” According to Schwartz, counties have increased their outreach efforts, providing information about the program at senior centers, health fairs and schools. North Carolina’s participation rate rose from 58 percent in January 2005 to nearly 65 percent at the end of last year.

http://www.newsobserver.com/102/story/556979.html

7. California: Santa Clara County Starts Pilot Program to Streamline Food Stamp Application Process for Homeless and Working Poor

(“Santa Clara Co.: New Pilot Program Streamlines Food Stamps Application Process,” cbs5.com, March 26, 2007)

Santa Clara County, Calif., initiated a new pilot program to streamline the food stamp application process for the homeless and working poor. The program will speed up the process by allowing applicants to interview by phone. “It’s a hardship for a homeless person and working poor family to make multiple office visits,” explained Don Gage, chairperson of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. The waiting time for food stamps for families will be shortened to three weeks or less. The program also will provide more outreach to targeted groups. Program partners, Second Harvest Food Bank and Sunnyvale Community Center, will refer low-income applicants to the pilot program. Trained outreach workers will assist chronically homeless persons with filling out the “hardship waiver,” which can help applicants get expedited food stamps within three days or the same day. The pilot’s goal is to sign up 100 people for benefits, according to Kathy Buckovetz of the Department of Employment and Benefit Services. If successful, the program could be the standard application process by mid summer, Buckovetz said.

http://tinyurl.com/2jwkfs

8. Vermont Kicks Off First Annual Hunger Conference

(“First Statewide Hunger Conference Highlights Scope of Vermont Problem,” rutlandherald.com, March 25, 2007)

Anti-hunger advocates, legislators and state officials in Vermont gathered at the first annual hunger conference to discuss the problem on hunger across the state. More Vermonters are going hungry, and the safety net for the hungry is “fragile,” said Joseph Kiefer of Food Works. Vermonters are sometimes surprised to learn about the extent of hunger, said Gov. James Douglas. Last year, Douglas appointed a new task force on hunger. “Family income is rising at the rate of 3 1/2 percent a year. The problem is that the cost of living is rising faster,” he said. Although the state has one of the highest minimum wages in the country, the governor noted, “that’s not really the story. It’s what you need to make your family’s ends meet.” The issue of low wages and Vermont’s increasing cost of living echoed throughout the conference sessions. “Hunger is much more pervasive than I realized,” declared Dr. Donald Swartz, medical director of the Vermont Department of Health and chairman of the Governor’s Task Force on Hunger. “It involves not just the poor but an awful lot of the middle class who just can’t stretch their budget to cover an adequate diet.” The participants also discussed ways to increase participation in food stamps. Between 30 percent and 40 percent of Vermonters eligible for food stamp benefits are not enrolled in the program.

http://tinyurl.com/yvwegm

9. Op-Ed – Vermont: When Every Child Has Proper Nutrition, All Vermonters Benefit

(“The Cost of not Dealing Adequately with Hunger and Nutrition,” timesargus.com, March 28, 2007)

“If every child had proper nutrition we could see some big things,” writes Don Mandelkorn, field services director for the Vermont Agency of Human Services in the Times Argus. “We could reduce our out-of-control health care costs. There would be much less chronic illness …. With the proper nutrition, more children would go to school ready to learn, and that has consequences for our entire education system. Schools could concentrate on education and less on serving as social-service agencies,” Mandelkorn writes. Although existing nutrition programs help many needy families, “even with these resources, we’re not completely successful,” he argues. More progress in fighting hunger, especially among children, will benefit all Vermonters. “The prenatal benefits for WIC resulted in cost savings to many other programs during the lives of children. Every dollar spent on WIC saves $3.50 by averting other medical and related expenditures,” Mandelkorn points out. “We need to think big if we are to engage the broader Vermont community in making sure that all children have adequate nutrition and none ever go hungry,” he concludes.

http://tinyurl.com/2l332l

10. Virginia: Henrico County Schools to Resume School Lunch Program

(“School Lunch U-Turn,” timesdispatch.com, March 28, 2007)

Henrico County in Virginia will return its high schools to the National School Lunch Program in the fall. This year’s pilot program at Highland Springs High School demonstrated that the county’s independent food service system does not reach all students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunches under the federal system. With the return to the national program, more needy students will have an opportunity to eat a free or reduced-price school lunch. Countywide, 11,921 students are eligible for subsidized meals this year. Tim Mertz, assistant food services director, pointed out that “now that the student population is changing and there are more needy students … [the return to the national lunch program] can be more economical.” The county’s high schools also will set up electronic accounts for students, which will speed up transactions and not single out students who receive free or reduced-price lunches.

http://tinyurl.com/2zybw4

11. Washington: School Students Eat More Fruits and Vegetables and Drink Less Pop, Survey Says

(“Survey Reveals Hidden Truths About Teenagers,” heraldnet.com, March 22, 2007)

The number of students in Snohomish County, Wash., who report that they regularly ate five fruits or vegetables a day, is increasing, with the biggest increase – from 21 percent in 2002 to 25 percent in 2006 – being among 10th-graders, according to a new survey. Nearly 200,000 state students participated in the 2006 Healthy Youth Survey conducted among sixth-, eighth-, 10th- and 12th-grade students. The survey, conducted every other year, showed that fewer students are drinking soda. In Snohomish County, most noticeable declines were observed among eighth- and 10th-graders. In eighth grade, 14.6 percent of students said they drank two or more nondiet sodas in the last day, down from 19.6 percent in 2004. In 10th grade, 17.9 percent of students reported consuming two or more nondiet sodas, down from 22 percent. In fall 2004, the Everett School District became the first in the Snohomish County to ban soda during class hours in all its schools. The survey also included questions about breakfast habits. Dr. Sara Tamarin, a pediatrician for The Everett Clinic, said the lack of breakfast can affect schoolwork, because skipping breakfast tends to hinder a student’s ability to concentrate and focus. “Even a low-fat breakfast bar is better than nothing and gives protein and energy to get through the morning hours,” Tamarin said.

http://www.heraldnet.com/stories/07/03/22/100loc_a1survey001.cfm

12. Massachusetts: Schools Take Big Steps to Improve Student’s Nutrition

(“Lunch Ladies Not What They Were,” telegram.com, March 22, 2007)

“School nutrition is changing at an accelerated rate,” said Donna M. Lombardi, school nutrition director in Worcester, Mass. “The biggest change is in the kids,” pointed out Angela M. Scolaro, food service director for Oxford's public schools. “Today’s kids eat out all the time. They are much more educated in what’s available … We have to do a lot more merchandising.” Scolaro transformed the high school cafeteria into Pirates’ Cove, with the cafeteria line featuring message boards reminding students to “navigate your way with good nutrition” and “exercise — stay in ship shape.” “We’ll do what it takes to encourage better nutrition,” Scolaro explained.At her schools, baked goods are low in fat and sugar, the pizza crust is half whole-wheat flour, and vending machines in the cafeteria offer only water or milk. According to the Food Research and Action Center, last year, 43.5 percent of all Massachusetts students in schools participating in the National Lunch Program qualified for free or reduced-price breakfasts. “It’s an important program. We keep it going in the summer with our summer feeding program, which we take where the children are, such as basketball camp or recreation programs,” said Barry L. Sbordy, food service director in Southbridge. More than 60 percent of Southbridge elementary school and middle school students and about 50 percent of Southbridge High School students qualify for free or reduced-price meals.

http://www.telegram.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070322/NEWS/703220828/1116

13. Washington: Tumwater School District Launches Nutrition Label Program to Encourage Healthier Choices in School Cafeteria

(“Nutrition Labels Added to Food,” theolympian.com, March 27, 2007)

The Tumwater School District in Washington State kicked off a new program to make it easier for students to choose healthful options in the cafeteria line. Students eating breakfast or lunch at school now will see nutrition labels for all foods and condiments that the district sells. The labels will list fat content, calories and other nutrition facts. The Winner’s Circle program, funded through a $10,000 grant from the state Department of Health, uses a purple star and golden fork label to indicate food items that meet specific Winner’s Circle criteria, e.g., a maximum 200 calories per snack. “It’s trying to teach kids to add fruits and vegetables to their diets and how our program can help them do that,” said Kira Acker, the district’s food services supervisor. Every day, Tumwater staff will showcase a complete meal that meets the criteria. Dan DeVries, 16, said he’s glad the district offered a free sampling of healthful options during Tumwater High School’s morning breakfast break. “A lot of us don’t have a chance to eat breakfast,” he said. DeVries added that he plans to pay attention to the new nutrition labels.

http://www.theolympian.com/120/story/72870.html

14. Pennsylvania – Editorial: State EITC Can Help End Poverty

(“A Way to End Poverty in PA,” philly.com, March 26, 2007)

“The warm reception given to a proposed state Earned Income Tax Credit for low-income Pennsylvanians [at a House Finance Committee hearing] was a heartening sign for an idea that should become law,” writes this editorial in the Philadelphia Daily News. “Poverty is not just a Philadelphia or Pittsburgh thing ... As Pennsylvania has gone from manufacturing to service jobs, pockets of poverty in rural areas have grown,” writes the newspaper. While Pennsylvania eliminates state income tax liability for qualified families through the Pennsylvania Income Tax Forgiveness program, the state EITC could bring $1,400 to poor families. A state EITC would “translate into money in the pocket. That’s money to buy big ticket appliances or pay off utility bills.” Currently, 20 states, including the District of Columbia, have state EITCs. “A state EITC is a win-win: a good deal for poor working families, a good deal for Pennsylvania,” states the newspaper.

http://tinyurl.com/3dvza9

For news tips, suggestions, comments, contact Olga Doty at odoty@frac.org