Some good news, and some not so good..l /arlene spark\ sent via iPad Begin forwarded message: From: "Mike Ambrose, Food Research & Action Center" <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> Date: May 23, 2016 at 10:01:47 AM EDT To: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> Subject: FRAC News Digest - Child Nutrition Bill, SNAP, Summer Food Service Program Reply-To: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> [http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/5118/images/digest_banner.jpg] FRAC'S WEEKLY NEWS DIGEST Issue #20, May 23, 2016 follow us: [http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/5118/images/facebook.gif] <http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=0WBTC%2F5Y5EULI4vDJ7o5RtoZXJkirzOF> [http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/5118/images/twitter.gif] <http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=QnavUDvXvkj3nbaDIM7zrdoZXJkirzOF> Quote of the Week “To say this change would be detrimental would be an understatement. Raising the threshold...would lead to far fewer schools qualifying for the program and more low-income children going hungry every day.” Letter from Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and 111 Democrats on raising community eligibility threshold in House proposed child nutrition reauthorization, The Hill<http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=KPGXfRY7JBTJraNsWkW38toZXJkirzOF>, May 16, 2016. [http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/5118/images/footer_twitter.gif]<http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=96UMARN8TzP7Y37UfSIPPtoZXJkirzOF> [http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/5118/images/footer_fb.gif] <http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=EJAIV62LojsaaXJ%2FjgWliiv7ZqeX4tx4> [http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/5118/images/footer_email.jpg] <mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20this%20article%20from%20FRAC's%20Weekly%20News%20Digest&body=Check%20out%20this%20article%20from%20FRAC's%20Weekly%20News%20Digest%20-%20http://thehill.com/regulation/healthcare/280064-dems-call-for-changes-to-child-nutrition-bill> Child Nutrition Reauthorization House Education and Workforce Committee’s Hodge-Podge of Bad Ideas Would Roll Back Years of Progress in the Fight Against Childhood Hunger<http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=miVvyBcy6x7iynqJOz0k3NoZXJkirzOF> - FRAC, May 18, 2016 Multiple ill-conceived provisions included in this bill would result in countless low-income children no longer having access to the nutritious meals they need for their health and learning. These provisions vastly outweigh the modest improvements, such as increasing the school breakfast reimbursement. [http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/5118/images/footer_twitter.gif]<http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=26RQC3n5OZxaz5GpER9os9oZXJkirzOF> [http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/5118/images/footer_fb.gif] <http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=%2Bhbr2TzWW2BfUhMLSBrSNdoZXJkirzOF> [http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/5118/images/footer_email.jpg] <mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20this%20article%20from%20FRAC's%20Weekly%20News%20Digest&body=Check%20out%20this%20article%20from%20FRAC's%20Weekly%20News%20Digest%20-%20http://frac.org/frac-statement-house-workforce-committee-child-nutrition-reauthorization-bill/> House GOP Is Determined To Make It Harder For Poor Kids To Get Free School Lunches<http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=VEmLtlhm7ZMEjtvml0n7rNoZXJkirzOF> – The Huffington Post, May 18, 2016 The child nutrition reauthorization advanced this week by the House Committee on Education and the Workforce raises the threshold for schools to qualify for community eligibility. Last year, more than 18,000 schools and 3,000 districts provided free meals to all students through the provision, according to the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Since implementing the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) at 11 of its 17 school sites, the Metropolitan School District of Wayne Township in Indianapolis saw school lunch participation rise by 6 percent. Should the current proposed legislation become law, only four of the district’s schools would be eligible for CEP, a change that would make a “huge impact” on students and families, according to the district’s child nutrition director Sara Gasiorowski. [http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/5118/images/footer_twitter.gif]<http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=w3lNlNgMTKKB6GSuOluOltoZXJkirzOF> [http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/5118/images/footer_fb.gif] <http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=Vk4U%2FCvc5%2FpTQv%2FqHVPmq9oZXJkirzOF> [http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/5118/images/footer_email.jpg] <mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20this%20article%20from%20FRAC's%20Weekly%20News%20Digest&body=Check%20out%20this%20article%20from%20FRAC's%20Weekly%20News%20Digest%20-%20http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/gop-school-lunch_us_573c7e82e4b0ef86171cca10> Dems call for changes to child nutrition bill<http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=lWXwSil%2F8BNjlTwpdmFvnNoZXJkirzOF> – The Hill, May 16, 2016 A letter from Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and signed by 111 Democrats asks House Education and the Workforce Chair John Kline (R-MN) and House Subcommittee on Early Childhood Elementary and Secondary Education Chair Todd Rokita (R-IN) for changes to the child nutrition bill, which includes raising the threshold for CEP from 40 to 60 percent. “To say this change would be detrimental would be an understatement,” notes the letter. “Raising the threshold…would lead to far fewer schools qualifying for the program and more low-income children going hungry every day.” [http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/5118/images/footer_twitter.gif]<http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=%2Bx1%2FJ3hWeCKKj9DoZKMevtoZXJkirzOF> [http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/5118/images/footer_fb.gif] <http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=kGMNdMhCvvccZOSjv2usONoZXJkirzOF> [http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/5118/images/footer_email.jpg] <mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20this%20article%20from%20FRAC's%20Weekly%20News%20Digest&body=Check%20out%20this%20article%20from%20FRAC's%20Weekly%20News%20Digest%20-%20http://thehill.com/regulation/healthcare/280064-dems-call-for-changes-to-child-nutrition-bill> Concannon: Reauthorize Child Nutrition Programs So They Benefit Children<http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=H1wPgn6xrMk0JU47fQcCnUKZn7MzqEoI> – USDA Blog, May 17, 2016 The changes to school meals in the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (HHFKA) have proven to be successful, but the House Education and the Workforce Committee’s current child nutrition reauthorization aims to roll back on nutrition standards in healthier school meals and weaken CEP, writes U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in this blog post. CEP has increased school meal participation and reduced administrative burdens and costs for schools and parents. [http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/5118/images/footer_twitter.gif]<http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=VH1BdwdsyyfVr%2BqxdZ9nCNoZXJkirzOF> [http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/5118/images/footer_fb.gif] <http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=rrlUPE%2FFHI9lN75Zc7Oi5UKZn7MzqEoI> [http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/5118/images/footer_email.jpg] <mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20this%20article%20from%20FRAC's%20Weekly%20News%20Digest&body=Check%20out%20this%20article%20from%20FRAC's%20Weekly%20News%20Digest%20-%20http://blogs.usda.gov/2016/05/17/concannon-reauthorize-child-nutrition-programs-so-they-benefit-children/> Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) William Baker: SNAP endangered yet again<http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=MUaH5TX7da%2B6gH8NrMspANoZXJkirzOF> – Stamford Advocate, May 18, 2016 Currently, the U.S. House Majority is proposing cutting the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program by $150 billion over 10 years, changing the program to a block grant, which would prevent the program from increasing benefits during rough economic times, among other changes, writes William Baker, a volunteer advocate with RESULTS, in this op-ed. In Connecticut, one in eight residents is on SNAP. Of those, six out of ten are in families with children and one-third are in families with elderly and disabled members. This kind of help is “well beyond the means of local food banks.” Baker urges readers to ask Congress to preserve SNAP and oppose cuts and rule changes. [http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/5118/images/footer_twitter.gif]<http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=blADRl9xV7wu2%2FTdavm2v0KZn7MzqEoI> [http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/5118/images/footer_fb.gif] <http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=Qv6Hlx%2B2jkrMEAc2hyPW2doZXJkirzOF> [http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/5118/images/footer_email.jpg] <mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20this%20article%20from%20FRAC's%20Weekly%20News%20Digest&body=Check%20out%20this%20article%20from%20FRAC's%20Weekly%20News%20Digest%20-%20http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/William-Baker-SNAP-endangered-yet-again-7535983.php> LA moves to require farmers markets to accept food stamps<http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=VkCdFiyDQk9xvLyy8GXbztoZXJkirzOF> – Southern California Public Radio – May 13, 2016 While more than a million people rely on CalFresh (SNAP) benefits in the Los Angeles area, more than half of LA’s farmers’ markets don’t accept electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards. The Los Angeles Food Policy Council is working with LA’s City Council on an ordinance to require all farmers’ markets to accept EBT. Food Policy Council research suggests that markets adding EBT see increased revenues. Incentive programs providing SNAP users with matching funds when shopping at farmers’ markets also bring in more business. [http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/5118/images/footer_twitter.gif]<http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=Xr0e9qrmRBsl9ZGmtU8uhNoZXJkirzOF> [http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/5118/images/footer_fb.gif] <http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=tOYZ%2BXyAvYEom7E7tRW3TdoZXJkirzOF> [http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/5118/images/footer_email.jpg] <mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20this%20article%20from%20FRAC's%20Weekly%20News%20Digest&body=Check%20out%20this%20article%20from%20FRAC's%20Weekly%20News%20Digest%20-%20http://www.scpr.org/programs/take-two/2016/05/13/48835/should-farmers-markets-be-required-to-accept-food/> Summer Food Service Program Free meals for students on summer break: Find your nearest provider here<http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=4p8J48k%2FTF78rdguCRZlEtoZXJkirzOF> – KTUU, May 16, 2016 Free summer meals are important to urban and rural children in Alaska; there are more than 100,000 food insecure people – including children – in the state, and 40,000 students are eligible for free or reduced-price school lunch. Through the federal Summer Food Service Program, the Food Bank of Alaska and partner organizations provide free summer meals when school is out. Summer is a tough time “for families struggling…to get to the end of the month,” said Karla Justi, the food bank’s director of development. Justi said the summer food program should be expanded in the state “because we do realize it is only serving part of the need.” [http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/5118/images/footer_twitter.gif]<http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=cPUHcPv%2FfEQL%2FczpHawC5toZXJkirzOF> [http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/5118/images/footer_fb.gif] <http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=5KgNabLw46jVHke1fT5a6toZXJkirzOF> [http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/5118/images/footer_email.jpg] <mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20this%20article%20from%20FRAC's%20Weekly%20News%20Digest&body=Check%20out%20this%20article%20from%20FRAC's%20Weekly%20News%20Digest%20-%20http://www.ktuu.com/content/news/Free-meals-for-students-on-summer-break.html> Childhood hunger: Schools, groups offer summer options<http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=2uuMRHA34qV4sba38W8xLNoZXJkirzOF> – Clarion Ledger, May 5, 2015 Between 60 and 70 percent of Mississippi students are eligible for free or reduced-price school lunch, and some school districts are serving free lunch to all students. These students rely on the Summer Food Service Program while school is out, and the state served more than 2.4 million free summer meals last year, a 6.9 percent increase from the year before. The state Department of Education has seen a 95 percent increase in the number of summer meal sites in the last five years. [http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/5118/images/footer_twitter.gif]<http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=duhgEau3%2BCRhGwZ9574EykKZn7MzqEoI> [http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/5118/images/footer_fb.gif] <http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=MqVkCUoyHmlgNU%2FersgMX9oZXJkirzOF> [http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/5118/images/footer_email.jpg] <mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20this%20article%20from%20FRAC's%20Weekly%20News%20Digest&body=Check%20out%20this%20article%20from%20FRAC's%20Weekly%20News%20Digest%20-%20http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2016/05/15/programs-childhood-hunger-mississippi/84322038/> ________________________________ About Us: The Food Research and Action Center (www.frac.org<http://www.frac.org>) is the leading national organization working for more effective public and private policies to eradicate domestic hunger and undernutrition. Visit our Web site (www.frac.org<http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=HIaqcd%2FfhU6Ch9Kl8LXq2doZXJkirzOF>) to learn more. 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