President’s Budget Request

President Obama’s FY2013 budget protects and proposes to strengthen the nation’s nutrition safety net for the many Americans who continue to struggle with hunger, lost jobs, and reduced wages. Chief among his proposals are: restoration of cuts to SNAP (food stamps) benefits made in the 2010 child nutrition bill and scheduled to take place in FY 2013; and the suspension for a fiscal year of time limits on benefits for certain unemployed, working-age, low-income adults without dependents.

“As the nation recovers from the recession, tens of millions still struggle with hunger. In 2010 alone, nearly one in four households with children said there were times they were unable afford enough food for their households,” said FRAC President Jim Weill. “The President’s budget makes important investments in our nation’s nutrition safety net, and FRAC is committed to working with the Administration and with Congress to ensure that the programs are protected and improved.”

Summary of President’s FY2013 Budget Proposals for the Nutrition Programs:

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)/Food Stamps

  • The budget proposes to set Budget Authority for SNAP (food stamps) in FY 2013 at $87.37 billion, of which $5 billion shall be reserve funds for use only if needed to carry out program operations.
  • The budget proposes restoration of cuts to SNAP (food stamps) benefits made in the 2010 child nutrition bill and scheduled to take place after October 31, 2013.
  • The budget proposes a state option to suspend for a fiscal year the time limits on SNAP benefits for certain unemployed, working-age, low-income adults without dependents (for a cost of $376 million).
  • The budget assumes a continued SNAP “focus on increasing program access and encouraging all eligible people to take advantage of SNAP benefits, with particular emphasis on reaching underserved populations such as the elderly and Hispanics.”
  • The budget assumes that continued gradual improvement in the economy will lead to SNAP participation declines to 46.9 million people in 2013, down from 47.1 million people in 2012, even as the proportion of eligible people who participate is increased.
  • The budget requests $12.4 million to improve SNAP retailer integrity and reduce trafficking.
  • The budget increases funding targeted to improving SNAP payment accuracy (with a goal of 96.21 percent payment accuracy to a total of $11 million (a $2.8 million increase above FY 2012).

Child Nutrition Programs

  • The budget includes funding to support anticipated growth in participation and meals served in the child nutrition programs. It anticipates that 32.4 million children will participate in the National School Lunch Program and 13.1 million children in the School Breakfast Program in FY 2013.
  • The budget includes $441 million for the Summer Food Service Program, an increase of $29 million.
  • The budget proposes $35 million for competitive grants to fund school meal equipment needed for the implementation of the new school meal standards and expansion of the school breakfast program.
  • The budget includes $172 million for the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, which provides schools in low-income areas with fresh fruits and vegetables, and $2.1 million for the Farm to School Tactical Team, which assist schools in purchasing more locally grown foods.
  • The budget maintains Team Nutrition at $15 million and provides $1.5 million for the HealthierUS Schools Challenge.  Team Nutrition supports the child nutrition programs through training and technical assistance, nutrition education, and school and community support. The HealthierUS Schools Challenge recognizes schools that are creating healthier school environments.
  • Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
  • The budget proposes $7.04 billion for the WIC program, an increase of approximately $423 million.
  • The budget is expected to support the participation of 9.1 million women, infants, and children in WIC (an increase from an estimated 8.96 million in FY2012.)
  • The funding supports an increase in the cash value vouchers for fruits and vegetables for children from $6 a month to $8 month, consistent with the Institute of Medicine recommendation.
  • The budget includes $60 million for Breastfeeding Peer Counseling, $30 million for MIS/EBT systems, $14 million for infrastructure and technical assistance, and $15 million for program initiatives and evaluation.

Commodity Programs

  • The budget funds the Commodity Supplemental Food Program at $187 million and is expected to maintain existing caseload.  This funding level, however, would not be sufficient to allow the six new states with CSFP-approved state plans to commence operations (Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Maryland, Massachusetts and Rhode Island).  In FY2012, the program received $176.8 million.  CSFP provides commodities to low-income elderly and pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women, infants and children up to age six.
  • The budget funds The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) commodities at $270 million, an increase of $10 million.
  • The budget includes $49 million for The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) Storage and Transportation Grants, a $1 million increase.

Farmers’ Market Nutrition Programs

  • The budget maintains funding for the Seniors Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program at $21 million.
  • The budget maintains funding for WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program at $17 million.

Other Nutrition Programs

  • The budget funds the Congressional Hunger Center fellowship program at $2 million, same as FY2012 funding.
  • The budget provides $25 million to the Department of Treasury for the Healthy Food Financing Initiative, to increase the availability of affordable, healthy foods in underserved communities, an increase of $3 million.  In addition, The Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) Fund anticipates allocating $250 million of the $7 billion requested for the New Markets Tax Credit Program for healthy food financing.
  • The budget provides $2 million for Hunger Free Community Grants.  In FY2012, the program was zeroed out.
  • The budget maintains funding for the McGovern/Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition at $184 million.
  • The budget provides the Department of Health and Human Services with $1.25 billion to fund the Prevention and Public Health Fund which works to improve health outcomes and reduce health care costs.
  • The budget provides the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative with $325 million (a 23 percent increase from FY2012) and targets increases for USDA research in a number of selected areas, including human nutrition and obesity reduction.
  • The budget funds USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) at $77 million, a decrease of $1 million.
  • The Nutrition Programs Administration (NPA) funds for USDA are increased to $142 million (a $5 million increase from FY2012) to support continued program growth and nutrition policy development and promotion activities.

Refundable Tax Credits

  • The budget would make permanent the recent improvements in the refundable Child Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). These tax provisions will provide crucial income support to millions of moderate income and working poor families with children. One of the many positive outcomes will be increased food security.

Other Safety Net Programs

  • The budget funds the Emergency Food and Shelter Program at $100 million, $20 million less than FY2012.
  • The budget provides $350 million for the Community Service Block Grant (CSBG).  In FY2012, CSBG received $678 million.
  • The budget funds the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) at $3.02 billion, $45 million less than FY2012.