DELAURO HIGHLIGHTS IMPACT OF RYAN-REPUBLICAN BUDGET ON FOOD SECURITY

Under Ryan Plan, Millions of Middle-Class, Working Families to Lose Food Stamp Benefits, Go Hungry

New Haven, CT — At a press conference today with local anti-hunger leaders and advocates from the Connecticut's Third District, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3), Ranking Member on the Labor, Health, and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee, highlighted the profound impact the recently released Ryan-Republican budget would have on federal anti-hunger efforts.

"In this economy, with jobs paying less, 13 million unemployed and one in six living below the official poverty line, millions of middle-class and working families are hurting, and hunger and food insecurity are on the rise." said Congresswoman DeLauro. "Yet, Congressman Ryan and the House Majority have put forward an unconscionable budget that slashes the social safety net to shreds. Over ten years, their budget cuts Food Stamps by over 17 percent, or $133.5 billion, even though food stamps keep millions of Americans fed and help to grow the economy. That is more than the amount of food stamp funds going to 29 states and territories. If passed, over 8 million men, women, and children may be cut from the rolls and thus go hungry – all so the America's millionaires can enjoy an average tax cut of $400,000." In Connecticut that means 400,000 participants are at risk of losing benefits.

Due to the uncertain state of the national economy and continued high levels of unemployment, child poverty, child hunger, and food insecurity have all been on the rise. In 2010, nearly 15 percent of American households were food insecure, meaning they did not have access to enough food for an active, healthy life. This means that nearly 50 million Americans today, including over 16 million children, today face the real risk of going hungry. Connecticut's third congressional district has a food hardship rate of 14.1% -- meaning that nearly 1 in 7 households were not sure they could afford the food the family needed.

"Our network of soup kitchens and food pantries have seen an average 30 percent increase in demand for their services for the last two and a half years," said Nancy L. Carrington, President & CEO, Connecticut Food Bank. "Many are seeing people who are seeking help for the first time. Financially challenged households are struggling as the cost of food, gas and utilities continue to rise. If significant cuts are made to SNAP and other federal food assistance programs, we won't be able to food bank our way out of the resulting crisis."

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Plan (SNAP), or Food Stamps, currently works to feed over 46 million Americans a day, 21 million of them children. Nearly 75 percent of food stamp recipients are families with children. According to Moody's, food stamps generate $1.73 in economic activity for every dollar spent – because people spend the money right away, generating a multiplier effect in local communities.

Congresswoman DeLauro was joined by Nancy Carrington, President and CEO of Connecticut Food Bank, the largest centralized source of donated, emergency food in Connecticut. Connecticut Food Bank provides food and resources to approximately 600 community-based food programs, such as soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters and low-income adult and child day care programs in six of the state's eight counties. Also attending was Lucy Nolan, Executive Director of End Hunger Connecticut, a statewide anti-hunger and food security organization whose goal is to improve the levels of food security and nutrition among Connecticut families while creating and supporting policies that move families toward self-sufficiency. Susan Vass, a resident of Branford and mother of three, spoke to the challenges many middle-class families are facing by sharing her own story. Ms. Vass, who has been in and out of the workforce over the last two years due to company lay-offs, receives unemployment compensation just over the income limits to qualify for SNAP benefits and participates in the Food Bank's food-assistance network.