Child Nutrition Bill Signed into Law; Food Stamp Cuts Not Yet Restored

Today, President Obama signed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act into law. The Nutrition Consortium of NYS appreciates and recognizes the efforts of all involved in supporting and ensuring passage of this Act.

Read the Nutrition Consortium's press release (here).
For a summary and analysis of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (here).

FRAC Releases New Polling Data Showing Overwhelming Support for Federal Efforts to End Hunger

Voters Strongly Support SNAP Funding

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Jennifer Adach, 202.986.2200 x3018

Washington, D.C. – December 7, 2010 – In the wake of the recent election, 80 percent of Americans believe that hunger is a serious problem for the country that must be addressed, according to new poll data released today by the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC). Those polled also believe overwhelmingly that the SNAP (food stamp) program must be protected in its key role of reducing hunger.

The poll of 802 registered voters was conducted by Hart Research Associates from November 5 – 8. Support for ending hunger and protecting SNAP from budget cuts was high across party lines, age, race, gender, income, and geographical areas.

The central findings of the poll were:

• 80 percent of Americans believe that low-income children and families not being able to afford enough to eat is a very or fairly serious problem for the country. Only six percent said it was not a serious problem;
• 81 percent believe the President’s goal of ending childhood hunger by 2015 is a very or fairly important goal for Congress and the President;
• 82 percent said it was important for Congress and the President also to set a goal of ending senior hunger by 2015;
• 74 percent say that SNAP is a program that is very or fairly important for the country;
• 71 percent say that cutting SNAP would be the wrong way for Congress to reduce spending next year; and
• 73 percent say that Congress should reduce other kinds of spending – not cut SNAP – to pay for increased funding for school lunches.

For the full press release and additional findings

Child Nutrition Reauthorization Passes, Awaits President's Signature

From the Food Research and Action Center:

House Passes Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act

Today, the House passed The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (S. 3307). The bill now heads to President Obama for signature, which he is expected to do quickly. The passage of this bill was accompanied by a strengthened commitment by President Obama, made during meetings with House Democrats prior to the vote, to fix the SNAP cut contained in the bill. A number of the speakers on behalf of the bill on the House floor referenced the need to restore the SNAP cut.

For a summary of the Act's provisions, check out this resource from FRAC (here).

For one-page factsheets from the Senate Agriculture Committee (here).

How did your House member vote? (here)

Pass a Strong Child Nutrition Bill, No Cuts to SNAP/Food Stamps

The Nutrition Consortium of NYS continues our commitment to both ensuring that Child Nutrition Reauthorization passes in the Lame Duck session and preventing any future cuts to SNAP/food stamps.

With Congress back in session for a limited time, it is essential to tell members that cutting food benefits for one program to fund another is unacceptable. A good child nutrition bill can make needed improvements without cutting future SNAP/food stamp benefits.

View a sign-on letter that asks House members to pass a strong Child Nutrition bill without cutting SNAP/food stamps before Congress adjourns for the year (click here).

October 2010 version of the Food Stamp Prescreening Guide Now Available

The October 2010 version of "FOOD STAMPS IN NYS: An Eligibility Prescreening Guide" is now available.

This guide is designed for community based organizations, advocates and volunteers who are working with low-income households and want to:

• determine if a household may potentially qualify for food stamp benefits,
• help assist the household through the application process, and
• calculate an estimated food stamp benefit allotment.

To veiw or downloaded the guide from our website click here. Due to financial restraints we will not be able to provide printed copies of this guide.

For questions concerning information in the guide please contact Dawn Secor, Food Stamp Specialist at dawn.secor@nutritionconsortium.org or by calling 518-436-8757 x12.

2nd Virtual Rally for CNR, 10/28

From the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC):

Last week's Virtual Rally for Child Nutrition Reauthorization was a resounding success! Thank you to those on Twitter who made us the talk of the town, and others who participated via Facebook, called the White House, and e-mailed President Obama.

Let's keep the momentum going strong. We're going to rally again this Thursday, October 28, 12 noon - 4:00 pm. The White House needs to keep hearing from you!

Get Ready for the Virtual Rally:

• Make sure you are near a computer or phone on October 28 from 12 noon - 4:00 pm.
• If you are on Facebook and/or Twitter, use your accounts to relay your message to the White House. Check out FRAC on Facebook or Twitter for messages you can re-post or re-tweet, and additional actions you can take.
• Not on Facebook or Twitter? During the rally time, call the White House comment line (202) 456-1414 or e-mail the White House via this form letter.
• Create a rally video before Thursday. Use your phone or camera to record yourself "at the rally." Gather your friends, co-workers, and others to join you. Upload your videos to YouTube and the URLs to Mike Ambrose so FRAC can post the videos on our Rally page. Check out the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism for a great example. Can't make a video? Just take a picture of your rally sign and send it to us.
• Invite your Representative to make a speech at the Rally via Twitter or Facebook. Tell them about FRAC's virtual rally. Ask her/him to join us for the rally and show support via Tweet or Facebook posting for a strong child nutrition bill that doesn't cut SNAP/food stamp benefits.

Share this message: A good child nutrition bill can make needed improvements without cutting future SNAP/food stamp benefits. It's a must-fix priority.