2002 Ag Appropriations Set

During the week of November 25th President George Bush signed the 2002 Agriculture Appropriations Act, thus funding nutrition programs already underway since October 1st. The Act included several bits of good news for Pennsylvania.

WIC. The appropriation was increased to $4.348 billion, a 7.5 percent increase over the 2001 level and within striking distance ($39 million) of full funding.

With the worsening economy, the number of women and children eligible for WIC is increasing. Will the federal appropriation be enough to avoid waiting lists in Pennsylvania? According to officials in the PA Department of Health, it all depends on how 2001 carryover funds are allocated among the 50 states. That will be known in January.

For now, local WIC Programs will continue to serve all eligible women and children. Appropriation of state funds may be the only way to assure that everyone can be served throughout the coming spring and summer.

Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP). This program, which provides food commodities to needy seniors and to at-risk women and children not participating in WIC, will be coming to Pennsylvania for the first time thanks to an increase of $102.8 million. According to Sheila Christopher, executive director of the PA Association of Regional Food banks (PARF), the USDA will allocate funding to Pennsylvania for an initial caseload of 6,000 persons. The counties participating this first year will be Allegheny, Armstrong, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Washington and Westmoreland.

Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). For-profit childcare centers will be able to continue to serve CACFP-funded meals to low-income children so long as such children are at least 25 percent of enrollees. Participating childcare centers may receive full retroactive reimbursement to October 1st.

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). Funding for the purchase of food commodities was continued at $100 million; funding for the cost of administration, transportation and storage was set at $50 million. These levels are consistent with last year.

Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP). This funding enables WIC mothers and children to purchase fresh, locally grown produce. Up to $25 million is authorized, although only $10 million of that total is guaranteed. The availability of the balance ($15 million) depends on the availability of WIC carryover funds. Also included will be $10 million for the seniors' Farmers' Market Nutrition Program. Currently Pennsylvania receives $2.2 million in federal funding for FMNP-WIC but nothing for FMNP-Seniors.

Senator Arlen Specter served on the Senate-House Conference Committee that prepared the final bill for the President's approval. We must remember to thank the Senator for his continued leadership on the federal nutrition programs.

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