Appropriations Veto Threats May Lead to Further Hardship for Hungry...(ofpregnant and postpartum women infants ...),Health

"WIC is a vital to the well being of more than 8 million low-income women and young children in the United States," said Escarra. "Our Network can not replace the lost benefits and contact with healthcare that this program has been so successful at providing."

The Farm Bill, which passed the House in late July and is currently being debated by the Senate, would provide much needed relief to food banks and hungry Americans. The nutrition title of the Farm Bill provides policy direction and funding for TEFAP, the Food Stamp Program and authorization for CSFP. The House-passed Farm Bill and the version that was approved by the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee would increase mandatory funding for TEFAP from $140 million annually to $250 million annually. This increase would provide nearly 215 million pounds of food or 168 million additional meals per year to hungry Americans for the next five years. Both versions of the bill would also strengthen the Food Stamp Program and reauthorize CSFP.

"Every day that goes by without a Farm Bill is a day that food banks shelves are going emptier," said Escarra. "I urge Congress to approve a Farm Bill as soon as possible and provide sufficient funding for nutrition programs in the Fiscal Year 2008 Appropriations process to ensure that we can keep feeding the millions of people coming into our agencies each week for food."

America's Second Harvest is also calling upon the private sector to support us through food and financial donations this holiday season and help us meet a continued projected shortfall of food inventories this year. You can donate or sign up to advocate for America's Second Harvest or your local food bank by visiting