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CONTACT ELECTED OFFICIALS
Help educate elected officials about hunger in Central Texans and support hunger-ending legislation. Sign up to advocate for hungry Central Texans with Action Alerts. You'll receive timely information on legislation and tips for how you can improve the lives of hungry Central Texans by connecting with your elected officials.
Featured Action Alert
Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act
Congress is scheduled to revise critical programs affecting the health and nutrition of all Texas children. The Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act plays a pivotal role in ending hunger, as many low-income children rely on these programs for their daily meals. These programs not only need adequate funding, but also reform, to ensure they provide good nutrition to as many children in need as possible.
The opportunity for reform only comes once every four or five years. This year, the bill is particularly important, as Texas leads the nation with the highest rate of child hunger (Source: Feeding America Report - Child Food Insecurity in the United States: 2005 - 2007). One-in-three of our clients is a child.) Learn more about these programs and how you can support Texas children in need: According to USDA, the National School Lunch Program "provides nutritious lunches and the opportunity to practice skills learned in classroom nutrition education." Schools receive a per-meal cash reimbursement and agriculture commodities for participating. These lunches are required to adhere to minimal standards for calorie, nutrition and fat content.
For children to qualify for free lunch, the household income must be at or below 130 percent of the federal poverty level (approximately $21,580 for a family of three). For reduced-price lunch, income must be between 130 percent and 185 percent of the poverty level (approximately $30,710 for a family of three).
Unfortunately, in Texas, school lunches don't feed all who qualify. Stigma, difficulty of enrollment and cost prevent children from receiving these meals. Outdated nutrition standards and poorly designed incentives make it difficult for schools to choose children's health and nutrition above profit. Low-income children lose when they must choose between hunger and unbalanced meals.
In coalition with the Texas Food Bank Network, CAFB supports:
Eliminating the "reduced-price" lunch category to cut red tape and feed more children (H.R. 3705)
The School Breakfast Program (SBP) began as a pilot program in 1966 to support the nutritional needs of children with long bus rides to schools and in areas where mothers worked. Since 1975, SBP has been a permanent entitlement program providing free- and reduced-priced breakfast according to the same rules as the school lunch program. Texas state law requires that schools provide breakfast if at least 10 percent of students qualify for free- or reduced-price meals. Texas' SBP continues during the summer months at schools or alternative sites with federal reimbursement for each meal served. When used, SBP has proven to be an effective means to reduce hunger and improve students' attendance, attentiveness and achievement. Unfortunately, like the school lunch program, stigma discourages students from participating in the program. In 2005-2006, although 81 percent of Texas school children qualified for free- or reduced-breakfast, only 28 percent participated in SBP. Since SBP is served before the school day, it's often too difficult to arrive early. Low participation in this program doesn't just affect hungry children; it also has deep consequences for Texas' budget. A Center for Public Policy Priorities report showed Texas loses out on more than $30 million in related federal funds by not improving school breakfast participation. According to the Food Research and Action Center's (FRAC) School Breakfast Scorecard, Texas ranks 5th among the states in missed federal dollars tied to the School Breakfast Program. In coalition with the Texas Food Bank Network, CAFB recommends:
Encouraging the adoption of universal in-class breakfast programs (H.R. 3047 or H.R. 4325) WIC helps new and expectant families learn about nutrition and eat healthy foods. New and expectant families may also receive WIC food packages. Foods offered within WIC are in-line with American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations to promote and support long-term breastfeeding and good nutrition for prenatal and postnatal care. WIC is one of five programs under the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act that is not an entitlement program. This means that Congress does not set aside funds to allow every eligible individual to participate. Each state has a yearly food expenditure goal and must meet at least 97 percent of its food grant or face penalties in the form of reduced funding for the next year. Funding does not keep up with rising food costs and increased caseloads from the poor economy.
In coalition with the Texas Food Bank Network, CAFB recommends:
Excluding combat pay from income for the purposes of determining eligibility (S.581) CACFP reimburses important community resources like food banks, at-risk after school programs, and domestic violence, homeless, and senior-care centers for providing meals and snacks. These meals enrich the tutoring, afterschool care, or physical activity programs offered by these providers and help make these services affordable in low-income communities.
Barriers to participation include complex paperwork and reporting requirements, low reimbursements that are not in line with rising food costs, and difficulty meeting program requirements for smaller agencies.
In coalition with the Texas Food Bank Network, CAFB recommends:
Summer Nutrition Programs fill the nutrition gap during the summer months for children relying on free- and reduced-priced lunches during the school year. This program has not enjoyed the participation rates of other federal feeding programs, and participation in Texas is one of the lowest in the nation. According to a recent FRAC study, only 8 of every 100 Texas children who were eligible for free- and reduced-price lunches participated in the Summer Nutrition Programs. Inconsistent outreach and a lack of organizations willing to sponsor sites make it difficult for children to participate in the program. Sites that are available are often in urban areas, leaving children living in rural communities without this vital resource.
In coalition with the Texas Food Bank Network, CAFB recommends:
Legislation to Watch and Support:
Afterschool Flexibility to Expand Reimbursement for School Meals Act of 2009
Description:
Expands Afterschool Meal program nationwide. (Currently it is only available in CT, DC, DE, IL, MD, MI, MO, NV, NY, OR, PA, WI, WV, VT.) Allows schools to serve afterschool meals the through NSLP. (Currently the program must be operated through CACFP.) Provides funding to state agencies to support efforts to expand participation.
Sponsors:
Senate: Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) Richard Lugar (R-IN)
House: Gwen Moore (D-WI)
Co-Sponsors:
Senate: Mark Begich (D-AK), Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Roland Burris (D-IL), John Kerry (D-MA), Carl Levin (D-MI), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Barbara Boxer (D-CA)
House: Andre Carson (D-IN), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Donna Edwards (D-MD), James McGovern (D-MA), Gregorio Sablan (I-MP), Corrine Brown (D-FL), Bob Filner (D-CA), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Rick Larsen (D-WA), Eleanor Norton (D-DC), Albio Sires (D-NJ), Pete Fortney Stark (D-CA), Robert Wexler (D-FL), Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), Allen Boyd (D-FL), Alan Grayson (D-FL), Ron Klein (D-FL), Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL)
Ensuring All Students Year-round (EASY) Access Act Description:
Allows community-based and local government afterschool providers in all states to provide nutritious meals and snacks year-round through the Summer Food Service Program. Complements the Afterschool Meals Act by streamlining out-of-school time nutrition programs for nonprofit and local government sponsors.
Sponsors:
House: Rick Larsen (D-WA) Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO)
Hunger Free Schools Act Description:
Incorporates S.1226 Paperless Enrollment for School Meals Act and S.1293 Enhancing Child Health with Automatic School Meal Enrollment Act Requires school districts to utilize Medicaid and SCHIP data for direct certification for children with incomes up to 133 percent of the federal poverty line. Sets a state performance standard for direct certification. Requires that states that directly certify less than 95 percent of eligible children implement a corrective action plan for the current year, and a improvement plan for the following year. Allows high-poverty schools to serve universal free breakfast and lunch for five years and receive reimbursement based on local socioeconomic data rather than applications. Adds categorical eligibility for military families.
Sponsors:
Senate: Sherrod Brown (D-OH)
House: David Loebsack (D-IA)
Co-Sponsors:
Senate: Michael Bennet (D-CO), Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Robert Casey (D-PA), Al Franken (D-MN)
House: Robert Andrews (D-NJ), Judy Chu (D-CA), Susan Davis (D-CA), Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO), Al Green (D-TX), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Betty McCollum (D-MN), James McGovern (D-MA), Jared Polis (D-CO), Robert Scott (D-VA), Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), Joe Courtney (D-CT), Chaka Fattah (D-PA), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)
The Universal Classroom Breakfast Expansion Act Description:
Sets up a competitive grant program for states to apply for to award sub-grants to schools; Allows schools to use grant money for the start-up costs associated with establishing a universal classroom breakfast program, including purchasing equipment, training staff, securing technical assistance, and distributing materials to encourage participation; Requires schools receiving grant money to agree to provide breakfast in the classroom free of charge to all students for at least three years; and Targets grants to schools with the highest percentages of students qualifying for free and reduced-price meals.
Sponsor:
House: Paul Tonko (D-NY)
Co-Sponsors:
House: Keith Ellison (D-MN), James McGovern (D-MA)
Access to Nutritious Meals for Young Children Act Description:
Expands Access to Healthy Meals and Snacks through the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP): Allows the option of a third meal service (typically a snack or supper). Increases CACFP reimbursements to support serving nutritious CACFP meals. Improves the area eligibility test for child care in low-income neighborhoods. Strengthens the community-based support system for homes. Streamlines paperwork requirements for parents and programs.
Sponsors:
Senate: Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
House: Paul Tonko (D-NY)
Paperless Enrollment for School Meals Act of 2009 Description:
Note: Rolled into Hunger Free Schools Act, S.1343 Allows high-poverty schools to serve universal free breakfast and lunch for five years and receive reimbursement based on local socioeconomic data rather than applications.
Sponsors:
Senate: Robert Casey (D-PA)
House: Chaka Fattah (D-PA)
Co-Sponsors:
Senate: Michael Bennet (D-CO), Arlen Specter (D-PA)
House: Robert Brady (D-PA), Allyson Schwartz (D-PA)
Enhancing Child Health with Automatic School Meal Enrollment Act of 2009 Description:
Note: Rolled into Hunger Free Schools Act, S.1343 Sets a state performance standard for direct certification. Requires that states that directly certify less than 95 percent of eligible children implement a corrective action plan for the current year, and a improvement plan for the following year.
Sponsors:
Michael Bennet (D-CO), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Robert Casey (D-PA)
The Student Breakfast and Education Improvement Act of 2009 Description:
Provides competitive grants for breakfast expansion efforts to schools with at least 65% of students eligible for free and reduced meals Encourages universal breakfast served in the classroom and the incorporations of local food into breakfast and lessons
Sponsors:
Senate: Herb Kohl (D-WI)
House: Gwen Moore (D-WI)
Co-Sponsors:
Senate: Russ Feingold (D-WI), Mark Begich (D-AK), Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Richard Durbin (D-IL), John Kerry (D-MA), Jon Tester (D-MT)
House: Madeleine Bordallo (D-GU), Donna Edwards (D-MD), Bob Filner (D-CA), Eric Massa (D-NY), Eleanor Norton (D-DC), Charles Rangel (D-NY), Joe Sestak (D-PA), Albio Sires (D-NJ), Pete Stark (D-CA), Andre Carson (D-IN)
The Child Nutrition Promotion and School Lunch Protection Act of 2009 Description:
Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to establish science-based nutrition standards for foods served on school campuses outside the school meals programs.
Sponsors:
Senate: Tom Harkin (D-IA) / Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
House: Lynn Woolsey (D-CA)
Co-Sponsors:
Senate: (Total: 31 Co-Sponsors)
House: (Total: 160 Co-Sponsors)
Balancing Act of 2009 Description:
Universal Breakfast; Afterschool Meal Program Expansion; Elimination of Reduced Priced Lunch: Includes a provision allowing all schools to serve breakfast free of charge to all students. Provides start-up assistance for schools to begin serving breakfast. Expands the existing Afterschool Meal Program from ten states to all through CACFP (does not allow schools to serve meals through NSLP). Allows schools to serve free lunch to students at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty line. (Eliminates the reduced-price category for lunch.)
Sponsor:
House: Lynn Woolsey (D-CA)
Co-Sponsors:
34 Co-Sponsors
Expand School Meals Act of 2009 Description:
Elimination of School Meal Reduced-Priced Category and Stigma Raises the threshold for free meals to 185 percent of the poverty line Includes provisions aimed at alternate meal polices to reduce stigma
Sponsors:
Senate: Al Franken (D-MN)
House: Keith Ellison (D-MN)
Co-Sponsors:
35
Military Family Nutrition Protection Act of 2009 Description:
Excludes combat pay from household income in calculating a child's eligibility for free or reduced price meals, and from a family’s income in calculating SNAP and WIC eligibility.
Sponsor:
Michael Bennet (D-CO)
Co-Sponsors:
18
Healthy Food For Healthy Schools Act Description:
Directs USDA to create models for the procurement and processing of commodities so that they meet the most recent dietary guidelines (in line with FRAC’s policy recommendations).
Sponsor:
Blanche Lincoln (D-AR)
School Food Recovery Act Description:
Requires schools participating in the school lunch program to donate any excess food under such program to tax-exempt food banks or charitable organizations in their localities.
Sponsor:
Frank Wolf (R-VA)
Co-Sponsor:
Don Young (R-AK), Daniel Manzullo (R-IL), Mark Souder (R-IN), Ahn Cao (R-LA), Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO), Virginia Foxx (R-NC), Sue Myrick (R-NC), Zack Space (D-OH), Chet Edwards (D-TX)
Healthy Food Choices for Kids Act Description:
Awards grants to up to 10 states for nutrition education.
Sponsor:
Bruce Braley (D-IA)
Co-Sponsor:
Joe Courtney (D-CT), Phil Hare (D-IL), David Loebsack (D-IA), Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH), Joe Sestak (D-PA)
America's Right-to-Eat Rescue Act of 2009 Description:
Requires that all States and the District of Columbia use the poverty line currently determined for Alaska during a 6-month period for the purpose of carrying out the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 and the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act.
Sponsor:
Joe Baca (D-CA)
Co-Sponsor:
James McGovern (D-MA), John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), Alcee Hastings (D-FL)
White House Conference on Food and Nutrition Description:
Directs the President to convene a White House Conference on Food and Nutrition in order to make fundamental policy recommendations on ways to end hunger and to improve nutrition in the United States. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Secretary of the Treasury to plan and conduct the Conference.
Sponsor:
Jim McGovern (D-MA)
Co-Sponsors:
Michael Arcuri (D-NY), Joe Baca (D-CA), Howard Berman (D-CA), Sanford Bishop (D-GA), Earl Bluemenauer (D-OR), Madeleine Bordallo (D-GU), Leonard Boswell (D-IA), G.K. Butterfield (D-NC), Lois Capps (D-CA), Michael Capuano (D-MA) (Total: 19 Co-Sponsors)
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