America's Second Harvest Applauds House Override Of President's Veto
Senate Expected To Override Veto Tomorrow
CHICAGO --- May 21, 2008 --- The House voted (316-108) today to override President Bush’s veto of the Farm Bill. The Senate is scheduled to vote tomorrow and also is expected to have enough votes to override the President’s veto. Upon a Senate override, the Farm Bill would officially become law.
“On behalf of the 25 million Americans that we serve, I commend the House of Representatives for its leadership in taking one more step to enact a Farm Bill that will help hungry Americans,” said Vicki Escarra, president and chief executive officer of America’s Second Harvest—The Nation’s Food Bank Network. “There is nothing more important right now to low-income Americans and the nation’s food banks, food pantries and soup kitchens than bringing a strong nutrition title in a new Farm Bill to every community nationwide.”
In a recent survey of 180 food banks, respondents reported an increase of 15-20 percent on average in the number of people turning to their food banks, food pantries and soup kitchens for help. More than 90 percent of respondents reported that increasing food and fuel prices are primary driving forces in increasing demands. Further, more than 80 percent of food bank respondents reported that they are unable to adequately meet the needs of increased demands for emergency food assistance without reducing the amount of food available to agencies or clients or cutting back operations.“Demands are up, and food is down,” said Escarra. “This is one of the worst times that our food banks have experienced in recent years in terms of the level of need and our ability to meet the need. At the same time, food stamp benefits are eroding and food and fuel prices continue to soar.”
Food banks nationwide have experienced a dramatic decline of nearly $200 million in food donations from the USDA surplus commodity program in recent years as a result of a strong agriculture economy. The Farm Bill, which has been debated for months in Congress, would bring much needed immediate relief to this dire situation facing the nation’s charitable distribution Network by replenishing record low levels of food inventories at food banks and significantly improving food stamp benefits. It would increase the amount of mandatory funding for the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) from $140 million a year to $250 million a year and index the amount for inflation.
The latest numbers on food stamp enrollment show that about 28 million Americans are currently receiving benefits, and most analysts expect the program to reach record levels of participation in the near future. Food stamp benefit levels are set annually, and food prices have increased 5.5 percent since the last benefit levels were set six months ago, making it even harder for low-income individuals and families to put food on the table.
“There is no end in sight to rising food prices,” said Escarra. “All indications are pointing to dramatically increasing food prices continuing in the coming years which will have a major impact on the number of people seeking emergency food assistance from our Network and on the ability of food companies to provide incremental donations to emergency feeding organizations. “We are one step away from crossing the finish line, and I urge the Senate to also override the President’s veto and enact a Farm Bill for hungry Americans.”
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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
