Nutrition Consortium Praises New York State Assembly Social Services Committee for Continued Support of the Nutrition Outreach and Education Program

On December 15, 2009, the Nutrition Consortium of New York State testified at the New York State Assembly Standing Committee on Social Services Hearing. The topic of the hearing was "The Impact of the 2009-2010 State Budget on the Programs and Services of the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA)." The Nutrition Consortium spoke about the many benefits of OTDA's continued funding for the Nutrition Outreach and Education Program (NOEP) in 2009-2010. Here is an excerpt from the testimony:

"One of OTDA’s successful initiatives to increase access to nutrition assistance programs by eligible populations is the Nutrition Outreach and Education Program (NOEP). NOEP is funded by OTDA and the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), and federally matched dollar for dollar by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The Nutrition Consortium , as the statewide administrator of NOEP, would like to extend its most sincere thanks to the Assembly for its leadership in maintaining funding for this important program in the 2009-2010 budget, along with the Senate and Governor. In particular, we would like to thank Assemblyman Wright for his commitment to maintaining NOEP funding, despite a very difficult budget situation in the State..."

"By the end of 2009-2010, we project that NOEP will bring at least $70 million in federal food stamp benefits into the state. This is 35 times what the state will have invested in it. A program that returns 35 times what the state invests in it, improves public health, promotes self-sufficiency, helps people from all backgrounds, ethnic groups, ages, and geographic areas, is a wonderful example of good, sound public policy, and we commend the New York State Assembly for recognizing it as such, and maintaining its funding..."

Read the full testimony