Hungry Americans Need a Farm Bill Now
America’s Second Harvest Urges Swift Passage of Farm Bill as Economic Conditions Send More U.S. Families, Seniors, Workers to Food Pantries
CHICAGO --- JANUARY 17, 2008 --- As economic conditions across the country force more and more families to seek emergency food assistance at food pantries and soup kitchens, America's Second Harvest – The Nation’s Food Bank Network is urging swift passage of the Farm Bill, as it once again is up for debate in the coming weeks. Once enacted, the legislation will strengthen federal nutrition programs providing critical, lasting support to the more than 35.5 million Americans living at the margins of hunger and bolster support for food banks struggling to serve what has become an unprecedented need.
“Day after day, headlines across the country are reporting home foreclosures, increased unemployment, bankruptcies, higher gas and energy costs, rising food prices and more,” said Vicki Escarra, president and CEO of America’s Second Harvest. “Middle- and low-income Americans are really caught in the squeeze, and food banks are scrambling to keep up with the need. A new Farm Bill will authorize necessary long-term funding for critical nutrition and food assistance programs for these families, children and the elderly.”
Competing versions of the Farm Bill have already passed both chambers of Congress. A final conference report will be drafted by a conference committee of the U.S. House and Senate, likely in the next few weeks. Upon passage by both chambers of Congress, the conference report will then be sent to President Bush for his signature. Federal nutrition programs funded by the Farm Bill, including the Food Stamp Program and the Emergency Food Assistance Program, are the first line of defense for millions of Americans.
“It is imperative that Congress and the President move the Farm Bill forward expeditiously so that vulnerable families, seniors and children can count on putting food on their table,” added Escarra.
The food shortages at food banks nationwide are largely due to dramatic declines in food aid from surplus commodity purchases by the federal government. Food banks are receiving less food to stock their shelves because a healthy farm economy has required less intervention in order to support prices. Quickly enacting this new Farm Bill would strengthen the long-standing, successful partnership between food banks and the USDA, and provide much needed food for those most in need throughout the nation.
In November, the United States Department of Agriculture released its annual study of hunger in America indicating the number of people living at the margins of hunger, has increased from 35.1 to more than 35.5 million, including 12.6 million children. In December, the US Conference of Mayors released its survey finding more families are seeking aid from emergency food distribution centers, particularly in urban areas.
“The generosity of corporations and the American people’s response to our call-to-action at the end of last year has enabled us to get through the holidays,” said Vicki Escarra. “But, hunger is a year round problem and passage of the Farm Bill is a critical piece of the long-term solution. It will provide a stable source of aid to people whose needs are growing and whose ranks are increasing due to the unfortunate state of our economy.”
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America's Second Harvest - The Nation's Food Bank Network is the largest charitable domestic hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through its network of more than 200 member food banks, America's Second Harvest annually provides assistance to more than 25 million people in need, including more than 9 million children and nearly 3 million seniors in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Each year, America's Second Harvest secures and distributes more than 2 billion pounds of donated food and grocery products to support feeding programs at approximately 50,000 local charitable agencies, including food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, after-school programs, and Kids Cafes. To learn more, please visit www.secondharvest.org.
Contact:
Maura Daly
312.641.6421
