Rep. DeLauro Speaks Out for Strong Safety Net in Farm Bill
U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) has urged her colleagues working on the Farm Bill to stop looking to the SNAP/Food Stamp Program for cuts in their deficit reduction strategies. “We simply should not be reducing our efforts to prevent hunger here at home while so many working families are recovering from the economy,” said DeLauro. She suggested other programs in the Farm Bill, including “the excessive federal subsidies of the crop insurance program,” be searched for savings, as the President has requested. “Without the common-sense steps to strengthen food stamps in the President’s budget, every family that relies on this critical program will lose some of their grocery money this fall.” DeLauro also noted that she fought for the provision in the economic recovery act that provided the boost to SNAP/Food Stamp recipients.
USDA Promotes Summer Food Service Program
While 21 million children receive free or reduced-price school meals during the school year, only one out of every ten also receives free summer meals through the summer food programs. USDA Under-Secretary Kevin Concannon encourages schools, churches, recreation centers, parks, and playgrounds where children naturally gather to serve summer meals in neighborhoods with high percentages of low-income families. The most successful summer programs offer activities—sports, arts and crafts, tutoring, etc.—which attract children and keep them at the sites. “Developing partnerships with other community organizations is often the key to being able to offer great activities,” notes Concannon. USDA is offering free webinar sessions to help sponsors and sites learn more about the Summer Food Service Program. More information can be found at www.summerfood.usda.gov.
