2013 U.S Poverty Health and Nutrition Campaign
Protect SNAP in the Farm Bill and Deficit Reduction
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Protecting Key Nutrition Programs
Dimensions of U.S. Hunger and Food Insecurity 14.9 percent of 5.7 percent with very low households were food food security. insecure at least some An increase from 5.4 time during the year percent in 2010, (over 50 million people). returning to the level observed in 2008-09.
We have not yet reached an economic recovery that delivers more food security. USDA ERS Household Food Security report on 2011
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Protecting Key Nutrition Programs
Dimensions of U.S. Hunger and Food Insecurity One in seven Americans, a record 47.8 million people received SNAP in December 2012. Food banks and food pantries were able to provide only 4 to 6 percent of the total need. 85 percent of SNAP households have income below the poverty line. USDA's profile of SNAP
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Protecting Key Nutrition Programs
SNAP is highly effective and responsive to changes in the economy
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Protecting Key Nutrition Programs
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Protecting Key Nutrition Programs
SNAP Benefits the Most Vulnerable 47 percent of all participants are 18 or younger and about half of all households receiving SNAP include at least one child. Households with children receive 71 percent of all SNAP benefits. USDA's profile of SNAP
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Protecting Key Nutrition Programs
Impacts of Hunger and Food Insecurity on Children • More than 1 in 5 children in the U.S. (16.7 million) are food insecure. • Effects of hungry children: – more likely to develop frequent illnesses and infections. – associated with an increased incidence of behavior problems in adolescents. – limit a child’s ability to understand basic skills and reduce overall learning potential. – More likely to have repeated a grade in school. FRAC; LSU Ag Center; USDA ERS Household Food Security report on 2011
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Protecting Key Nutrition Programs
SNAP lifted 4.7 million people, including 1.7 million children, out of poverty in 2011. A recent study shows SNAP reduces food insecurity in children by 20 percent and poor health by 35 percent. SNAP is good for the economy – in an economic downturn, SNAP generates $1.79 in economic activity for every $1. SNAP is one of the most effectively run federal programs with a 96 percent accuracy rate. Estimates are that SNAP spending will peak in 2013 and then decline. CBPP research
SNAP works!
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Protecting Key Nutrition Programs
SNAP and the Farm Bill The Senate Farm Bill (S.954) $4.1 billion in cuts to SNAP over ten yrs (“Heat and Eat” programs) Nearly 500,000 households would see benefits cut by avg $90/mo Sen. Gillibrand (D-NY) amendment to undo cuts was defeated Bill passed on June 10, 66-27 The House Farm Bill (H.R.1947) $20.5 billion in cuts to SNAP over ten years “Cat El” cut = 2 million people off plus 210,000 children lose free school meals (impacts 40 states and DC) Heat and Eat cut = 850,000 households benefits cuts by avg $90/mo Bill defeated on June 20, 195-234 (amendments on drug testing and work requirements were last straw)
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Protecting Key Nutrition Programs
SNAP and the Farm Bill House passed new Farm Bill on July 11 Excludes SNAP and other nutrition programs
What’s Next? House passes SNAP bill with much deeper cuts and try to real a deal Senate replaces House Farm Bill with Senate bill and sends it back House uses debt ceiling and budget negotiations this fall to ransom cuts to SNAP Important to remember: SNAP benefits will automatically decline on November 1, 2013 when the ARRA boost ends Households would see average drop of $20-25/month
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Protecting Key Nutrition Programs
2013 SNAP Request House and Senate: Protect and strengthen SNAP and oppose harmful policy changes to the program in any final Farm Bill or other legislation. Senate Key Players: • Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Senate Ag Committee Chair • Thad Cochran (R-MS), Senate Ag Cmte Ranking Member • Harry Reid (D-NV), Senate Majority Leader House Key Players: • Frank D. Lucas (R-OK-3), House Ag Committee Chair • Collin C. Peterson (D-MN-7), House Ag Cmte Ranking Member • John Boehner (R-OH-8), Speaker of the House • Eric Cantor (R-VA-7), House Majority Leader
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Protecting Key Nutrition Programs
EPIC Laser Talk: Protect Hungry Children and Families Engage: Nearly 1 in 4 children in the U.S. (22.4 %, 16.6 million) are at risk of going to bed hungry tonight. Studies show that children who are regularly hungry struggle in school, suffer from weakened immune systems, slowed and abnormal growth, and anemia. Problem: Unfortunately, Congress is proposing drastic cuts to SNAP (food stamps), which could force millions off the program and increase hunger in America.
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Protecting Key Nutrition Programs
EPIC Laser Talk: Protect Hungry Children and Families Inform/Illustrate: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamps) is the first line of defense against hunger in America. The U.S. Census reports that SNAP lifted 4.7 million people out of poverty in 2011. SNAP is an efficient, responsive program that supports children, working parents, people with disabilities, and seniors. It also boasts once of the highest accuracy and lowest fraud rates. Why are we talking about cutting a program that is successfully helping tens of millions of low-income Americans put food on the table each month?
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Protecting Key Nutrition Programs
EPIC Laser Talk: Protect Hungry Children and Families House Call to Action: Will you speak with House leadership along with House Agriculture Committee Chair Frank Lucas and Ranking Member Collin Peterson and urge them to protect and strengthen SNAP and oppose harmful policy changes to the program in any final Farm Bill or other legislation? Senate Call to Action: Will you speak with Senate leadership along with Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow and Ranking Member Thad Cochran and urge them to protect and strengthen SNAP and oppose harmful policy changes to the program in any final Farm Bill or other legislation?
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Protecting Key Nutrition Programs
WIC Helps Moms, Infants, and Toddlers Get a Strong Start on Life A preventive program providing low-income pregnant women, new mothers, infants and children with: o nutritious foods o nutrition education o improved access to health care In 2011, more than 9 million women, infants and children relied on the WIC program every month: 4.8 million children, 2.1 million infants, and 2.1 million women.
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Protecting Key Nutrition Programs
WIC Under Fire WIC is a discretionary program and subject to sequestration
5 percent cut in 2013 Estimated 600,000 mothers and children will lose access to WIC services in 2013 House Appropriations Committee approved its Agriculture Appropriations bill in June Cuts WIC by $415 million 202,000 women and children would lose services
Senate Ag Approps Subcommittee has not marked up bill yet
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Protecting Key Nutrition Programs
Nutrition Resources •
RESULTS: www.results.org
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Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, Charts on SNAP: http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3744#
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Find SNAP state fact sheets: http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3886
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Bread for the World’s fact sheet: http://www.bread.org/ol/2012/domestic-nutrition/pdf/domestic-nutrition-q-and-a.pdf
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USDA’s “Building a Healthy America: a profile of SNAP: http://www.fns.usda.gov/ora/MENU/Published/SNAP/FILES/Other/BuildingHealthyAmerica.pdf
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USDA’s Economic Research Service “Household Food Security in the United States in 2011”: http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/err-economic-research-report/err141.aspx#.UcCyTtgsay1
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Feeding America “Hunger and Poverty Statistics”: http://feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/hunger-facts/hunger-and-poverty-statistics.aspx
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Food Research and Action Center “SNAP/Food Stamp Eligibility”: http://frac.org/federal-foodnutrition-programs/snapfood-stamps/eligibility/
RESULTS/RESULTS Educational Fund 1730 Rhode Island Ave NW, Ste 400 Washington DC 20036 RESULTS Economic Opportunity Campaign Contacts: Meredith Dodson,
[email protected], (202) 782-7100, x116 Jos Linn,
[email protected], (515) 288-3622
www.results.org
