Senator Feingold letter-Childhood Hunger

Dear Mr. Schaefer,


Thank you for contacting me regarding childhood hunger in the U.S. I appreciate hearing from you, and I share your concern.

Combating hunger is an essential part of the struggle to end poverty in the U.S. Despite living in one of the most industrialized countries in the world, too many Americans still lack basic necessities, such as food and shelter. In Wisconsin, over 14 percent of children live in poverty. I have long supported nutrition programs, including Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as Food Stamps).

You specifically mentioned your support for S. 2749, the Access to Nutritious Meals for Young Children Act. As you know, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) introduced S. 2749, which would increase reimbursement rates for free, reduced price, and paid meals and snacks served under the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) at nonresidential child care centers and family or group day care homes. I will keep your support in mind should the Senate consider this or similar legislation.

You may be interested to know that, on July 21, 2009, I joined Senator Kohl in introducing S. 1480, the Student Breakfast and Education Improvement Act. This legislation would authorize the Department of Agriculture to award competitive grants to state or local educational agencies to establish or enhance school breakfast programs in schools where at least 65% of the students are eligible for free or reduced-price school lunches.

As you may know, Congress passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, also known as the economic stimulus package, in early February and the President signed it into law on February 18, 2009 (Public Law 111-5). I am pleased that the bill included a 13.6% increase in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, formerly known as Food Stamps. Many economists cite increasing SNAP benefits as one of the most effective means of stimulating the economy, generating about $1.70 in economic activity for every $1 the government spends. The bill also provides $500 million for the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program and $150 million for the Temporary Emergency Assistance for Needy Families program.