Senate Passes Farm Bill to Help Hungry Americans

Food Banks Desperately Need Enactment Of Farm Bill And Private Sector Support

CHICAGO --- December 13, 2007 --- The Senate approved a Farm Bill today that would bring much needed relief to hungry Americans and food banks nationwide through more than $5 billion in new investments in federal nutrition programs over the next five years. The bill, passed by a 79-14 vote, would provide $250 million a year in mandatory funding for the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), strengthen the Food Stamp Program and reauthorize the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP).

"We are thrilled that the Senate completed its work on the Farm Bill today," said Vicki Escarra, president and chief executive officer of America’s Second Harvest - The Nation’s Food Bank Network. "Our food banks are in desperate need of replenishing low food inventories in order to meet the increasing needs of millions of Americans turning to us for help this winter."

Food banks are suffering from 70 percent declines nationwide in support from surplus commodities provided by the United States Department of Agriculture through TEFAP. The increases in TEFAP included in the Senate-passed Farm Bill would provide an additional $110 million a year in incremental, mandatory support over current funding levels for TEFAP. The additional funding would provide about 215 million pounds of additional commodities for emergency feeding organizations which is equivalent to about 168 million more meals each year.

"Food banks around the country are seeing more and more people asking for help," said Escarra. "I can not overemphasize how critical the increases in funding for TEFAP are to the people we serve."

The bill also would make significant improvements in the Food Stamp Program including raising the minimum benefit, lifting the dependent child care cap, and excluding education savings accounts and retirement accounts from countable resources when applying for the Food Stamp Program.

"Food stamps are vitally important to hungry Americans," said Escarra. "I commend the Senate for taking a leadership role in improving the program, and our Network will continue to work to ensure that as many of our clients who are eligible for benefits receive them."

The House passed its version of the Farm Bill in late July. A conference committee is expected to convene in January to iron out the differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill.

"Congress has made great strides in making critical improvements to federal nutrition programs," said Escarra. "We are hopeful that the conference committee will build upon the fine work done by the House and Senate. Hungry Americans need this legislation to be enacted as swiftly as possible."

America’s Second Harvest has called upon the nation to help meet a projected 15 million pound shortfall in food donations by the end of December by making a financial or food donation. To learn how you can help bring hope to struggling families this holiday season, please visit www.secondharvest.org or call 800-344-8070.

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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
Office: 312.641.6421
Cell: 301.943.3733

Ross Fraser
Office: 312.641.6422
Cell: 312.307.8470