$36 BILLION CUT IN HEALTHY FOOD PROGRAMS OK WITH YOU?? HAVE YOUR SAY!

May 14, 2012   Tell Your Representative Cuts to Nutrition Programs are Unacceptable! Last week, the House of Representatives voted to cut almost $36 billion from federal nutrition programs. The vote was part of a partisan budget reconciliation process and it will not become law, but it gives CFSC members a perfect opportunity to let members of the House of Representatives Agriculture Committee know that: We oppose draconian cuts to nutrition programs We have better ideas to build community food security. Click here now to tell the House Agriculture Committee what you want in the 2012 Farm Bill! (The comment period closes on May 20, 2012.) Here are some ideas to get you started: A $36 million cut to SNAP is not the way to go. The Committee should focus on writing a Farm Bill that creates economic opportunity and improves access to healthy, affordable food for all Americans.   CFSC members had important wins in the Senate’s Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act and the House Agriculture Committee should include them in their bill. Community Food Projects Program – $10 million per year to help communities build food self-reliance. Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program – $20 million per year to develop farmers market capacity and create food hubs to connect farmers with schools, hospitals, grocery stores and other markets. Hunger-Free Community Incentive Grants – An average of $20 million per year for a new SNAP local fruit and vegetable incentive grant program at farmers markets and other healthy food retailers. Outreach and Technical Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Program (Section 2501) – The Senate bill includes only $5 million per year for this program, less than half the funding level in the 2008 Farm Bill. Tell the House Agriculture Committee that this important program deserves more support. (Read more about the program here.) Questions? Please contact CFSC Policy Office: 202-481-6933. Thank you for your help! Community Food Security Coalition

Community Food Security Coalition 110 Maryland Ave. NE Suite 108 Washington, DC 20002  (202) 481-6933 | www.FoodSecurity.org The Community Food Security Coalition (CFSC) is a non-profit 501(c)(3), North American organization dedicated to building strong, sustainable, local and regional food systems that ensure access to affordable, nutritious, and culturally appropriate food for all people at all times. We seek to develop self-reliance among all communities in obtaining their food and to create a system of growing, manufacturing, processing, making available, and selling food that is regionally based and grounded in the principles of justice, democracy, and sustainability.