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Major Issues
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2002 Farm Bill |
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Nutrition
Several thousand
Vermonters participate in nutrition programs, many of which were created by
Leahy when he chaired the Senate Agriculture Committee. Early budget proposals had zeroed out funding
for key programs, such as the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, potentially
denying thousands of Vermonters continued access to food assistance.
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WIC
and Seniors Farmers=
Farmers Market Nutrition Program:
Provides $15
million per year for the Seniors Farmers= Market ProgramCa program
administered through States that provides vouchers, or
coupons to seniors to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at farmers
markets. The bill extends WIC farmers= markets
program an additional year.
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Commodity Supplemental Food Program: Provides a
one-time boost in funding for
Vermont to prevent the
state having to terminate participation in this senior meals program. The law also gives
Vermont additional
time to build caseloads, allowing participation in the program to grow in
future years.
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Community Food Security Projects: The Farm Bill
doubled funding for this program (to $5 million/year) that gives grants to
individual organizations developing farmers markets, homeless shelters, and
other assistance.
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Food Stamp Reauthorization and Increased
Benefits: This provision reauthorizes all expiring
food stamp authorities through 2007 and increases benefits for working
families. It also broadens eligibility
for children, the disabled, and for legal immigrants.
NEW!
Nutrition
Research Program to Combat Childhood Obesity: Authorized in
the Research Title of the bill, the language for this program was proposed to
Senator Leahy by the
University of
Vermont. The provision allows grants to be made to
institutes of higher education with a demonstrated capacity in basic and
clinical obesity research, nutrition research, and community health education
B all
specialties of UVM. Funds may be used to
develop and evaluate community-wide strategies and diverse public-private
partnerships to reduce the incidence of childhood obesity.
NEW!
Nutrition Information and Awareness Pilot
Program:
The Secretary is authorized to set up a
cost-share pilot program aimed at increasing the domestic consumption of fresh
fruits and vegetables and conveying related health promotion messages.
