December 17, 2010 • Excerpt from TEAFP Alliance Blog – Foodlinks America Newsletter

President Barrack Obama signed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act on December 13, 2010, capping a two-year effort to reauthorize and strengthen the nation’s nutrition assistance programs for children. The legislation will increase meal reimbursement rates for the first time in 30 years, ease program access so more low-income children can be fed, and simplify paperwork for participants and administrators alike.

However, finalizing the reauthorization of child nutrition programs has had significant repercussions for other programs, notably the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps. The Hunger-Free Kids Act relies, in part, on $2.2 billion in SNAP funds to pay for child nutrition improvements. Adding in another $11.9 billion in future SNAP benefits reprogrammed in August 2010 to pay for a jobs bill, a total of $14.1 billion in SNAP funds has now been redirected to pay for other government services and avoid further growth of the national debt.

But the trend is worrisome. “We are concerned about recent moves to balance the federal budget on the backs of poor and hungry people – including the cuts to SNAP benefits used to pay some of the cost of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act,” Kathy Mulvey, policy director for the Community Food Security Coalition told Foodlinks America. “Times are hard enough for people struggling to makes ends meet. Protecting SNAP is critical not only to address food insecurity, but also to prevent future efforts to raid federal nutrition programs,” she added. read more…

The “Healthy, Hunger-free Kids Act” (S.3307) was passed by the House of Representatives and is headed for President Obama’s desk. Though, as with most bills, it did not end up including everything that was desired, “the bill is the only major improvement to child nutrition programs … in decades.” And that’s got to be something to celebrate!

Congress Approves Child Nutrition Bill

Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (S. 3307) Awaits Obama’s Signature

October 22. 2010 • Excerpt from TEAFP Alliance Blog – Foodlinks America Newsletter

Low-income advocacy groups in the nation’s capital usually present a united front when it comes to legislation intended to increase benefits and promote better nutrition. But the pending reauthorization of child nutrition programs has revealed a difference in tactics among the country’s leading anti-hunger fighters that could complicate or even prevent passage of a badly-needed extension and expansion of nutrition services for American children in schools and day care.

At issue are two different approaches in supporting the renewal of child nutrition programs, including school lunch, school breakfast, childcare feeding, and WIC. Certain elements of these programs will expire on December 3, 2010 unless congressional action is taken. read more…

September 24, 2010 • Excerpt from TEAFP Alliance Blog – Foodlinks America Newsletter

Legislation authorizing child nutrition programs is set to expire on September 30, 2010 and Congress is facing increasing pressure to take action for renewal and improvement of these programs before adjourning for the fall election season. But it is uncertain whether final decisions will be made in time and without damage to other nutrition assistance programs.

The Senate passed its child nutrition bill, S. 3307, the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act, in August by unanimous consent.  The bill contains provisions costing an additional $4.5 billion over the next ten years that will improve the nutritional quality of school meals and expand meal service to children in day care. But at least part of the money – $2.2 billion – to pay for these improvements would come from future cuts in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamps).

In the House of Representatives, legislation (H.R. 5504, Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act) passed out of the Education and Labor Committee in July. That bill would make $8 billion in nutrition investments over 10 years without cutting SNAP. However, to expedite passage before the end of the month, House leaders are being urged to adopt the Senate bill without any amendments.

Nutrition advocates are adamant that child nutrition changes be enacted without damaging SNAP. They were joined on September 21 by Mission Readiness, a national security group of retired generals and admirals whose report released last April, “Too Fat to Fight,” expressed concern over growing child obesity that is compromising military preparedness.  “Obesity rates threaten the overall health of America and the future strength of our military,” said retired Rear Admiral Jamie Barnett of the Navy. “We must act now. We cannot afford to raise another generation of young adults where one in four is too overweight to serve their country.” read more…

Action is needed now! Visit these websites to learn more about the Child Nutrition Reauthorization (CNR) bills that are moving through Congress.

UPDATE!! Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act of 2010
Committee on Education & Labor

To Keep CNR Moving, We Need Your Help!
Community Food Security Coalition

Why Child Nutrition Reauthorization Matters
Feeding America Blog

Farm to School in the House and Senate
FarmtoSchool.org

It Takes a Rocket Scientist?
Debra Eschmeyer, Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy Food and Society Fellow