Dear ______:
I am writing to respectfully request your strong support for a final Farm Bill conference report that provides at least $11.5 billion over 10 years for the Farm Bill's Nutrition Title. This level of funding, which was included in the House-passed Farm Bill (H.R. 2419) is absolutely essential in light of the weakened economy and rising prices for basic necessities.
This level of support is crucial to support a final Farm Bill conference report that provides $250 million with annual indexing for the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). This funding level was also included in the House-passed Farm Bill. Over the past several years, federal funding for TEFAP commodities has remained stagnant while food prices have risen by some 18%. Further, donations of bonus commodities bought for farm price support reasons and distributed by food banks to hungry Americans have declined by over 70% in just the past three years. TEFAP funding needs to be increased substantially and indexed for inflation to help make up for the erosion in commodity purchasing power and the loss of bonus commodity donations to food banks.
Finally, please support a final Farm Bill conference report that:
- Provides $250 million annually in mandatory TEFAP food purchases for food banks and indexes future commodity food donations to food price inflation.
- Authorizes $60 million for a grant program to help food banks and related organizations serving rural areas with the costs of accepting and distributing fresh foods to emergency feeding organizations.
- Includes Food Stamp Program improvements that expand eligibility and benefits and supports the ability of food banks and other nonprofit organizations to conduct innovative food stamp outreach and enrollment initiatives;
- Reauthorizes and strengthens CSFP.
These priorities are critical to people who depend for much needed food assistance on the Smithfield United Church of Christ food bank in Pittsburgh and on our partner food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, Kids Cafés, adult day care, and senior centers across the state of Pennsylvania and the country.
Thank you in advance for your leadership and support of the inclusion of these priorities in the final Farm Bill and for the conference report's quick passage. I look forward to your response.
/signed/
Arlen Spector:
Bob Casey:
http://casey.senate.gov/contact/
The Honorable Robert Casey
383 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510
or
Regional Enterprise Tower, 425 Sixth Avenue, Suite 2490, Pittsburgh PA 15219
Mike Doyle:
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