The 2008 Farm Bill has attracted significant attention with various parts of the bill drawing praise and criticism. Given the massive size of this bill, this does not surprise me. As a state legislator I can attest that the larger a bill is, the more likely there will be sections that not everyone will agree with.
One thing is certain, however, and that is that every section is a priority for someone and passage of the entire package often means compromising in order to get the necessary votes. The Nutrition Title of the Farm Bill is a critical priority for the Vermont Campaign to End Childhood Hunger and must be complemented with equally strong provisions in the upcoming Child Nutrition Reauthorization.
The Nutrition Title of the Farm Bill contains $10 billion in new funding to support much needed improvements to the food stamp program. This additional funding will mean that more people will receive assistance and the benefit levels for all who qualify will be higher. With rising food and fuel prices, help cannot come soon enough for the 65,000 Vermonters, including 19,000 children, who struggle to get enough nutritious food. Food stamps increase the food purchasing power of households, helping to ensure better nutrition for children, families, and seniors, and bringing these dollars directly into the local economy.
Full Story:
Federal nutrition programs all-important: Times Argus Online
05-27-08, 08:48 AM
