[ENS] — Noting that more than half of U.S. Food Stamp recipients are children,
the Episcopal
Public Policy Network (EPPN) is calling on Americans to urge lawmakers to
protect this
program in the face of upcoming federal budget cuts.

The Congressional Budget Resolution for Fiscal Year 2006 passed in May requires
the House
and Senate Agriculture Committees to cut $3 billion from programs under their
jurisdiction
by September 16, EPPN reports. Food Stamps is one of those programs.

Maureen Shea, director of the Episcopal Church’s Office of Government Relations
in
Washington, D.C., met July 28 with Senators and religious and other groups
concerned about
social safety net issues in the budget, including TANF (Temporary Assistance for
Needy
Families), Medicaid and Food Stamps.

At the meeting, Episcopal Bishop John Chane of Washington called for increased
public
awareness and advocacy around the issues. “It is important we get information to
the public
about the impact of this budget and the justice and moral issues involved,”
Chane said.
“There should be no cuts in Food Stamps.”

EPPN identifies the Food Stamp program as “the nation’s single most effective
federal effort
to reduce and prevent hunger in the United States.”

EPPN further cites a recent federal measurement showing “that 11.2 percent of
all U.S.
households, including 13.3 million children, do not have enough to eat. More
than half of all
Food Stamp recipients are children.

“Community food banks are already stretched to their limits. People of faith
through their
houses of worship are doing their part. Government must be a full partner in the
effort to
eradicate hunger in America.”

In a July 21 “action alert,” EPPN asked Episcopalians to begin contacting
Senators and
Representatives and urge them to oppose cuts in funding for the Food Stamp
Program.
Further information, including online registration for regular EPPN action
alerts, is posted at
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/eppn .

Following is an additional fact sheet provided through EPPN and the Office of
Government
Relations.

Food Stamps Facts and Statistics

Prior to the enactment of the Federal Food Stamp Program, hunger and severe
malnutrition
were common in many low-income communities in the United States; thanks to the
program,
severe hunger in America is now rare.

* According to the most recent federal government measurement of food insecurity
and
hunger, 36.3 million people in our nation, including 13.3 million children, live
in households
that experience food insecurity. That represents 11.2 percent of all U.S.
households.

* Cuts in basic nutrition for children make it harder for them to learn in
school and grow up
to become healthy, productive members of society. Community food banks are
already
stretched to their limits. People of faith through their houses of worship are
doing their part.
Government must be a partner in the effort to eradicate hunger in America.

* Millions of families in America lack the money to buy enough food at all times
for healthy
living. Medical research shows that children in such families are more likely to
get sick or
have impaired development. Food stamps can prevent children from suffering ill
health and
slow growth. Cutting this essential benefit is simply wrong.

* The Food Stamp Program is well managed, well targeted, and it has a low error
rate. More
than 95 percent of food stamp benefits go to households with incomes below the
poverty
line, while many of the remaining beneficiaries are near-poor elderly or
disabled persons.

* More than 36 million people are hungry or at risk of hunger; fewer than 26
million
participate in the Food Stamp Program.

* Food stamps allow more than 25 million low-income Americans to afford an
adequate diet

* On average, food stamp benefits equal $1 per person per meal

* Elderly or disabled people make up about 1/3 of all food stamp recipients;
Over 1/2 of all
food stamp recipients are children, and roughly 80 percent of all food stamp
recipients live
in households with children

* Roughly 70% of all food stamp participants are female

* Ninety percent of households that receive food stamps have incomes below the
poverty
line; 1/3 of all households receiving food stamps have incomes below half the
poverty line *
Households receiving food stamps have an average gross income of less than $700
a month

* Approximately 1/2 of people eligible for the Food Stamp Program are not
receiving benefits

* By responding to increased need, food stamps help to maintain overall food
demand,
thereby offering protection to the local and national economy in times of
economic
downturn; food stamps, therefore, benefit not only the people who receive them,
but also
farmers and store owners.

Sources:

* Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. (2000). Food Nutrition Programs:
Reducing Hunger,
Bolstering Nutrition. Washington, DC: Dorothy Rosenblum and Zoe Neuberger.

* U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service. Office of
Analysis, Nutrition and
Evaluation. (2004). Characteristics of Food Stamp Households: Fiscal Year 2003,
FSP-04-
CHAR. Alexandria, VA: Karen Cunnyngham and Beth Brown. Project Officer, Kate
Fink.