Federal nutrition programs have a direct, positive impact on the financial security and stability of low-income households; the agricultural sector, including farmers and processors; businesses, such as grocers and financial institutions; and state and local governments. Whether the cause is a change in family income or disasters as seen with Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, federal food programs play a critical role in ending food insecurity and hunger in America and help the most vulnerable make healthy food choices.
With the Congressional override of President Bush's veto, the Farm Bill is now law. This new law includes more than $10 billion over 10 years in federal nutrition spending. Within the nutrition title is $7.8 billion for the Food Stamp Program, $1.26 billion for the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and $1 billion for the free fresh fruits and vegetable snack program, which targets school children from low-income families. The Food Stamp Program includes significant improvements such as increased minimum benefit ($14 a month and indexed for inflation), and a larger standard income deduction ($144 and indexed to inflation).
Sixty-seven percent of Farm Bill spending goes to food and nutrition programs. Some highlights of the Nutrtion Title include:
INCREASED OVERALL SPENDING
More than $10 billion over ten years in total federal nutrition spending, with $7.8 billion for the Food Stamp Program (renamed the "Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program," or SNAP), $1.26 billion for emergency food assistance, and $1 billion for the free fresh fruits and vegetables snack program for school children. Texas receives $674 million in increased federal nutrition spending. Nearly 900,000 more Texans will receive additional Food Stamp benefits in 2012.
SNAP REFORMED TO REFLECT REAL NEEDS OF WORKING FAMILIES
New provisions and funding improves access to, and purchasing power of, SNAP. The SNAP allowance better reflects the needs of working families to save money, invest in education and provide care for dependents. Participants can deduct up to $175 per month for child care costs, and can deduct the full cost for dependent care. The new asset test encourages savings by indexing the asset limit to keep pace with inflation and exempts tax-preferred education and retirement accounts from counting against the asset limit. Combat pay is now excluded as income.
The minimum allowance increased from $10 to approximately $14 per month and is indexed to inflation. The standard deduction increased from $134 to $140 and is indexed to inflation. Households can deduct up to $175 per month for child care costs.
SUPPORT FOR FOOD BANKS AND OTHER EMERGENCY FEEDING ORGANIZATIONS
Food banks distribute USDA commodities through the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP, TEXCap in Texas). The new Farm Bill increases USDA commodity spending from $140 million to $250 million annually, with indexing for inflation. $100 million is allocated to help states pay for processing, storage, transporting and distributing emergency food. Texas will receive an additional $10 million for TEFAP in fiscal year 2009 and $114 million for Fiscal Years 2008 – 2017. To provide immediate relief for food banks experiencing shortage and increased clientele, $50 million in emergency food is allocated in 2008.
IMPROVE NUTRITION BY INCREASING AVAILABILITY OF, AND ACCESS TO, HEALTHY FOODS
$1 billion was added to expand the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program under the National School Lunch Act. Through the SNAP program, $20 million is allocated in mandatory spending to provide incentives for buying fruits, vegetables and other healthy foods. Through the Farmers' Market Assistance Program, no less than 10% of the funds allocated are used to support the Electronic Benefit Transfers for Federal nutrition programs at farmers' markets. The USDA Community Food Projects Competitive Grants program receives a $10 million boost in annual mandatory funding to empower local communities to support healthy eating, and build local food systems.
The Farm Bill establishes the Healthy Urban Food Enterprise Development Center and provides $3 million to help bring fresh foods into urban food deserts.
To ensure low-income seniors can afford healthy local food, the nutrition title provides $10 million in mandatory funding for the Senor Farmers' Market Program. Seniors with vouchers or EBT cards will be able to purchase fresh produce at local markets and roadside stands. New funding expands the use of EBT cards at Seniors Farmers' Markets.
COMMODITY SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD PROGRAM REAUTHORIZED
CSFP provides federal commodity food, nutrition education, and related services to pregnant and post-partum women, children under 6 (exclusive of WIC recipients) and seniors 60 and over each month who are at nutritional risk due to low income and poor diet. 90% of participants are seniors. Participants have incomes below 185% of the poverty line.
Changes to be in effect October 1, 2008
Source: USDA.gov FRAC.org
Key Nutrition Programs Authorized under the 2008 Farm Bill
1. The Emergency Feeding Assistance Program (TEFAP): provides purchased and bonus commodities to states for distribution to people who prepare meals for those in need. The Food Bank combines TEFAP food with privately donated food for distribution at Fresh Food for Families, Healthy Options Program for the Elderly and other programs. By "leveraging" TEFAP commodities, the Food Bank and their Partner Agencies can provide more food to hungry Central Texans than if they relied solely on donated food.
- TEFAP is a federal program that provides food at no cost to low-income Americans in need of short-term hunger relief.
- In most instances, local food banks combine TEFAP food with privately donated food for food package (or emergency food box) distribution at food pantries, food shelves, and other local charities. This "leveraging" of TEFAP commodities with privately donated food extends TEFAP program benefits beyond the budgeted amount for the program.
- Federal commodities through TEFAP provide some of the most nutritious products received by hunger-relief charities nationwide.
- Programs like TEFAP serve the public good in two important ways: First, high-quality, nutritious food gets to hungry Americans by utilizing the efficiencies and volunteer labor of the private sector, and second, the agricultural economy is strengthened through surplus commodity removal.
Learn more about TEFAP.
2. Food Stamp Program (FSP): is designed to increase the nutrition levels of low-income households, increase the purchasing power of low-income families and provide nutrition education designed to help low-income individuals choose healthy foods and active lifestyles.
- The Food Stamp Program is the cornerstone of the federal food assistance programs, providing crucial support to low-income working families, children, seniors, and other needy Americans.
- Households must meet eligibility requirements and provide information and verification about their household circumstances.
- Nationwide, approximately 60 percent of people eligible to participate in the program were enrolled.
- Texas ranks #47 lowest in food stamp participation nationwide. Approximately $5 million in federally matched funds in Central Texas go unused.
- Statewide, 2.3 million Texans (more than the entire population of Houston)use Food Stamps.
- At any given time, 8% of Travis County residents rely on the Food Stamp Program. Statewide, 25% of Texas children receive food stamps.
- In 2008, a typical working parent with two children will receive roughly $450 less in Food Stamp benefits because of benefit cuts made in 1996.
- The declining value of Food Stamps means that Texas will lose $248.4 million in economic activity next year.
Learn more about the Food Stamp Program
3. Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP): provides food and administrative funds to states for improving the health of low-income pregnant and new mothers, infants, children up to age six, and seniors over age 60.
- CSFP does not provide a complete diet, but instead provides supplemental nutrition often lacking in the diets of at-risk populations.
- Food packages are tailored to the specific nutritional needs of infants, children, pregnant and post-partum women, and seniors.
- CSFP is not available in all 50 states, and is only available in Texas in Dallas County and Webb County. Unlike WIC (Women, Infants and Children Program), CSFP also provides food to seniors. Individuals participating in WIC cannot participate in CSFP.
- The program is designed to complement, not duplicate existing federal nutrition programs, so CSFP recipients also relieve information on how to participate in the Food Stamp Program.
- CSFP provides another safety net for food-insecure seniors who do not meet the more restrictive requirements for food stamps.
