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You can join FPC in the 2009 Bread for the World Offering of Letters:

                              

 

  school kids

 

DRAFT A LETTER NOW to your person:

                        

Sen. Dodd or Lieberman                         

U.S. Senate

Washington, DC 20510

 

Rep. Larson or________________

U. S. House of Representatives

Washington, DC 20515

 

 

This year the Bread for the World Offering of Letters will center around sufficient resources for hungry children.  $20 billion will be needed for changes in this year’s reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act.  It is well known that brief periods of hunger affect the development of children.  Those that eat well are energetic and ready to learn.  Last year 30 million low-income children received school lunch and breakfast, WIC food packages (special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants and children), and summer meals.  However, this year the program needs to include 10 million more children who miss breakfast and 16 million without assistance in the summer.  As Congress sets priorities the Bill should include the following priorities:

 

            1)  Increase number of school breakfast and summer food sites that are available to low income families;

            2)  Explore alternative models providing children with summer meals such as higher family SNAP (food stamps)

                 benefits when school is out;

            3)  Maintain strong WIC program;

            4)  Increase outreach so that families know the programs that they qualify for;

            5) Encourage exploration of ways to reduce stigma associated with feeding programs;

            6)  Increase reimbursement rates to more accurately reflect the cost of nutritious                  

                 meals or snacks;

            7) Provide states with incentives to reduce rates of child hunger and increase participation in child nutrition programs.

 

The process for this Bill to come before the House and Senate is as follows:

 

March – Funding parameters are set by House and Senate budget committees through the annual budget process (going on now)

 

Spring/Summer – Hearings on child nutrition issues.        

 

 

Summer/fall – Once results of budget committees are seen, legislation is drafted to reauthorize child nutrition programs.

 

For more information  see www.bread.org.                    

 

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