Washington D.C. – Yesterday, the United States House of Representatives approved devastating cuts to important nutrition supports for hundreds of thousands of low income infants, children, and pregnant and postpartum women by passing the fiscal year 2012 House Agriculture Appropriations bill.

The bill drastically slashes funding for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), resulting in low-income women, infants, and children losing much needed nutrition assistance. Ironically, these cuts will force more people to rely on local charities for food assistance, yet at the same time, the legislation reduces support for emergency food providers, such as food banks, faith-based pantries, and other local agencies. The House approved bill also under funds the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as Food Stamps) reserve fund.

WIC provides a nutritious monthly food package to 8.9 million low-income pregnant and nursing women, infants, and young children at nutritional risk. The nutrition that WIC provides reduces the incidence of low-birth weight and associated health costs. Furthermore, for every dollar spent on pregnant women enrolled in WIC, there is a savings of $3.50 in health care costs. The fiscal year 2012 Agriculture Appropriations bill approved by the House of Representatives would fund WIC at $6.048 billion dollars, a reduction of $686 million dollars below the fiscal year 2011 level in which WIC had already faced a significant cut. As a result of the inadequate 2012 funding level, between 200,000 and 350,000 low-income mothers and young children are expected to be cut from this vital program. Over the past 15 years, Administrations and Congresses on both sides of the aisle have made it a priority to provide enough funding to serve all eligible women, infants, and children who apply. The proposed cut would break that 15-year bipartisan commitment.

“We applaud Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) for her efforts to restore some of the funding for WIC in the full Appropriations Committee markup,” said Bruce Lesley, President of the First Focus Campaign for Children, a bipartisan advocacy group. “We also commend Members of the House of Representatives who, in a bipartisan manner, voted against two harmful amendments that ultimately failed, including amendments by Congressman Paul Broun (R-GA) to cut the WIC program by 10 percent and another by Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC), which would have resulted in an additional cut of $82.5 million from the WIC program.

“Last year Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle came together to pass a strong child nutrition reauthorization. It is imperative that as America continues to recover from the economic downturn, our nation’s leaders provide adequate funding to ensure that all eligible children are able to benefit from the federal nutrition safety net. Doing so is critical to the health and well-being of America’s next generation. As the United States Senate moves forward with their appropriations process, we urge Senators to fund WIC at $6.83 billion in order to keep pace with rising food prices, and to ensure that WIC is able to serve every eligible mother and child in need.

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Washington D.C. – Today, in a bipartisan vote, the United States House of Representatives approved the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (S. 3307), a bill that provides an additional $4.5 billion over 10 years to federal child nutrition programs, including school lunch. The First Focus Campaign for Children, a nonpartisan children’s advocacy organization, praised our nation’s leaders for passing legislation that will ensure that more low-income children receive access to the meals they need.

Bruce Lesley, president of the First Focus Campaign for Children, issued the following statement:
“Now more than ever, providing children access to healthy food is critical. Nearly one in four American children go to bed every night hungry, and given current economic conditions, it is likely that many more families will require assistance to feed their children both now and in the years ahead.

“To grow up healthy and concentrate in school, children need access to nutritious foods. The National School Meals Program and other child nutrition programs offer the healthiest and most nourishing meals that many children receive each day. We commend President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, United States Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), Agriculture Committee Chairman Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN), House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Committee on Education and Labor Chairman George Miller (D-CA), and Representative Todd Platts (R-PA) for their leadership in ensuring that more hungry American children will have access to these valuable programs and the nutrition they provide.

“The legislation will also make great strides in preventing and addressing our nation’s childhood obesity epidemic by reducing junk food in schools and improving the nutritional quality of meals. It is unacceptable that one-third of our children and teens are either obese or overweight. Not only does this statistic reflect a serious health concern for our nation’s future, but a national security issue as well. Recent research shows that today 27 percent of 17-24 year-olds weigh too much to enlist in the military.

“Investing early in children’s nutrition provides a lifetime of benefits to our nation’s future. By preventing disease and obesity in children, kids will be able to lead long and productive lives. This is important for their future, provides a cost benefit to our healthcare system, and lays the health and educational groundwork for our nation’s future workforce and military.

“While the First Focus Campaign for Children, strongly supports the passage of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, we are committed to working with Congress and the Administration to restore the cut to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and fix the current benefits cliff that is now scheduled to take place in November of 2013. We urge Congress and the Administration to work together to restore the SNAP cut as soon as possible.”

Washington D.C. – Today, the First Focus Campaign for Children, a national, bipartisan child advocacy group, released the names of Members of Congress identified as the most valuable leaders on issues important to children. The announcement today launches the group’s inaugural campaign to recognize the top 100 Members of Congress who make improving the well-being of children a national priority.

Of the 100 Members of Congress recognized by the group today, 50 Members were named “Champions for Children” on account of their extraordinary efforts to protect and improve the future of America’s next generation. An additional 50 Members were awarded the title “Defenders of Children” and are being recognized for their support of policies that advance the well-being of children.

“We applaud our Champions and Defenders of Children for their unflagging commitment to protect our nation’s future,” said Bruce Lesley, president of the Campaign for Children. “Children cannot vote, hold press conferences, or donate to political campaigns to thank the Members of Congress that support them and protect their interests. And because of that, today we are honoring those Members on behalf of children. This award is intended to give recognition to our nation's top public officials who take action to make children a national priority. We look forward to working with our Champions and Defenders to continue protecting America’s next generation of leaders.”

In selecting the Champions and Defenders honored today, the First Focus Campaign for Children took note of leaders who introduced, co-sponsored, and voted for legislation that would best meet the needs of children. In addition, the organization considered Members who demonstrated extraordinary initiative by spearheading activities such as sponsoring hearings or garnering the support of their colleagues to improve the health and well-being of children.

Learn more about our Champions for Children Campaign.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) will be honored as a Champion for Children at a Children’s Budget Summit hosted by the bi-partisan Campaign for Children.

Senator Lincoln is one of only three Senators recognized at the event with this honor, marking her as one of the top leaders in Congress for federal investments that deliver for America’s children. First Focus cited, in particular, Senator Lincoln’s leadership on child nutrition, children’s health, and the Child Tax Credit – issues particularly important for Arkansas.

“Senator Blanche Lincoln has raised the profile of children’s issues in Congress and served as a true leader on issues like child health and nutrition, child care, and child welfare,” said Bruce Lesley, president of the First Focus Campaign for Children. We thank Senator Lincoln for her unflagging commitment to making America’s children a top priority of our nation.”

Rich Huddleston, executive director of Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, agreed with that assessment. “Senator Lincoln has consistently stood up for children in Arkansas and across the country,” he said.

“Children are our most precious blessings, and throughout my public service I’ve been proud to fight for federal resources and measures to ensure their health, safety, and well being,” Senator Lincoln said. “I am proud to advocate for improved nutrition, access to quality education and health care, and safe and loving homes for our children, and I thank First Focus and Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families for sharing this commitment.”

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN) will be honored as a Champion for Children at a Children’s Budget Summit hosted by the bipartisan children’s advocacy organization First Focus.

Senator Lugar is one of only three Senators recognized at the event with this honor, marking him as one of the top leaders in Congress for federal investments that deliver for America’s children. First Focus cited, in particular, Senator Lugar’s leadership on children’s health and nutrition – issues particularly important for Indiana.

“Senator Richard Lugar has raised the profile of children’s issues in Congress and served as a true leader on issues like child health and nutrition,” said Bruce Lesley, President of First Focus. “We thank Senator Lugar for his unflagging commitment to making America’s children a top priority of our nation.”

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Washington D.C. – Today, the United States Senate approved the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (S. 3307), a bill that provides an additional $4.5 billion over 10 years to federal child nutrition programs, including school lunch. The First Focus Campaign for Children, a bipartisan children’s advocacy organization, praised the Senate for passing legislation that will ensure that more low-income children receive access to the meals they need.

Bruce Lesley, president of the First Focus Campaign for Children, issued the following statement:
“Now more than ever, providing children access to healthy food is critical. Nearly one in four American children are at-risk of hunger, and given current economic conditions, it is likely that many more families will require assistance to feed their children both now and in the years ahead.

“To grow up healthy and concentrate in school, children need access to nutritious foods. The National School Meals Program and other child nutrition programs offer the healthiest and most nourishing meals that many children receive each day. We commend Agriculture Committee Chairman Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AK), and Senators Richard Lugar (R-IN), Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), and Tom Harkin (D-IA) for their leadership in ensuring that more hungry American children will have access to these valuable programs and the nutrition they provide.

“The legislation will also make great strides in preventing and addressing our nation’s childhood obesity epidemic by reducing junk food in schools and improving the nutritional quality of meals. It is unacceptable that one-third of our children and teens are either obese or overweight. Not only does this statistic reflect a serious health concern for our nation’s future, but a national security issue as well. Recent research shows that today 27 percent of 17-24 year-olds weigh too much to enlist in the military.

“Investing early in children’s nutrition provides a lifetime of benefits to our nation’s future. By preventing disease and obesity in children, kids will be able to lead long and productive lives. This is important for their future, provides a cost-benefit to our healthcare system, and lays the health and educational groundwork for our nation’s future workforce and military.”

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Senate Committee on Agriculture considers critical legislation that will reauthorize the federal Child Nutrition Program. The legislation, known as the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, was recently introduced by committee Chairman Blanche Lincoln (D-AK).

The First Focus Campaign for Children (FFCC), a bipartisan children’s advocacy organization, praised the introduction of the legislation as vital to reducing childhood hunger, improving nutritional quality, and modernizing and simplifying existing nutrition programs.

“Chairman Lincoln’s legislation proposes unprecedented investments to make our children healthier both inside and outside of the classroom. It expands the After School Meals Program to all 50 states and takes steps to make school lunches healthier. Further, the Chairman’s ‘mark’ makes children in foster care automatically eligible for free school meals – a critical addition to populations who are ‘categorically eligible’ for assistance. Importantly, Chairman Lincoln’s bill simplifies and reduces paperwork requirements for all Child and Adult Care Food Programs, cutting the red tape associated with providing children meals in day care settings,” said Bruce Lesley, president of the Campaign for Children.

“The Chairman has provided $4.5 billion dollars over 10 years for investments and improvements to crucial children’s programs. While this is not the amount called for by the President’s budget, we applaud Senator Lincoln for this groundbreaking investment that acknowledges the importance of access to nutritious meals. We look forward to working with the Senator as she leads Congress in the fight to reauthorize and secure funds that will eliminate child hunger and reduce childhood obesity,” Lesley added.

The legislation contains critical provisions that establish demonstration projects to expand the "direct certification process," through which school districts use information from state welfare or food stamp offices to certify children to receive free meals. Under the Act, Medicaid children in select Congressional districts would be directly certified, while benchmarks and incentive bonuses for states to improve their direct certification methods would be established.

In addition, the bill includes provisions that provide the Secretary of Agriculture with the authority to establish national nutrition standards for all foods, while also allocating mandatory funding for schools to institute Farm-to-School Programs. In addition, the bill modernizes and improves the successful Supplemental Nutrition for Women, Infants, and Children program by implementing an Electronic Benefit Transfer, while also extending WIC’s current 6 month certification period to a 1 year certification period.

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The First Focus Campaign for Children collaborated with messaging expert Dr. Drew Westen, to identify messages that effectively communicate the needs of America’s children in a way that will resonate with policymakers, media, and the public. This PowerPoint presentation outlines the results from our research and provides examples of effective messages.