Prevent Seniors in Your District from Going Hungry
Support the Commodity Supplemental Food Program
This is a programmatic request
Electronic Submission Instructions will be Provided.
Deadline: COB Monday, March 9
Dear Colleague:
Please join us in urging the Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies to maintain support for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) at a funding level that will maintain the current caseload. The estimated appropriation needed is no less than $265 million.
In this time of continued economic hardship, support for effective programs to ensure our constituents’ basic needs is more important than ever. The Commodity Supplemental Food Program provides up to 736,110 food packages each month in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, five Indian Tribal Organizations, and Puerto Rico.
CSFP recipients are seniors with annual income levels at or below $16,588 and many have no means of transportation. CSFP is often a program of last resort for seniors who qualify for no other form of nutrition assistance, and by providing delivery of fresh food packages, CSFP plays a crucial role in ensuring that even the homebound have their nutrition needs met. Last year, the CSFP received $245 million in funding for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020.
We hope you will join us in asking the Chairman and Ranking Member to allocate sufficient funds for CSFP in FY 2021. Please fill out this form by COB March 9 to be added to the letter. If you have any questions, please contact Courtney Laudick at Courtney.Laudick@mail.house.gov.
Sincerely,
Andy Levin
Member of Congress
Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson
Member of Congress
March 13, 2020
The Honorable Sanford Bishop, Jr.
Chairman
Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
235 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-6016
The Honorable Jeff Fortenberry
Ranking Member
Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
1514 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-6016
Dear Chairman Bishop and Ranking Member Fortenberry,
We write to express our strong support for preserving the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. We respectfully request that you reject any attempt to eliminate funding for CSFP in Fiscal Year 2021 and provide sufficient funding to maintain the current caseload, and to provide an opportunity for the one remaining state to start their program subject to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) approval. Based on currently available program costs, we estimate that the funds appropriated to maintain current services and allow for a modest caseload increase in line with what eligible states and Indian Tribal Organizations requested for the current program year will need to be no less than $265 million.
As you may know, CSFP is a critical nutrition program that delivers USDA commodities primarily to seniors. In this time of continued economic hardship, reliance on nutrition assistance is greater than ever. CSFP is an important component of our nutrition efforts because it reaches many seniors who qualify for no other program while providing delivery for those that are homebound.
In FY 2020, CSFP will provide up to 736,110 food packages each month in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, five Indian Tribal Organizations, and Puerto Rico. This year, program participants are elderly individuals with an income at or below $16,588. CSFP food packages have been redesigned this year to better supplement needed sources of nutrients typically lacking in participants’ diets, including protein, iron, zinc, and vitamins B-6 and B-12. CSFP providers have been very cost efficient: the typical food package has a retail value up to $50, but costs the federal government approximately $23 per participant package.
As you begin the appropriations process for Fiscal Year 2021, we urge you to maintain sufficient funding for this important lifeline that supports many seniors in our communities. We appreciate your consideration of this important request and look forward to continuing to work with you to ensure that no American goes hungry.
Sincerely,
______________________________ ______________________________
Andy Levin Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Download letter here.