WASHINGTON, June 5, 2003—Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today unveiled Mrs. Bush’s National Hunger Awareness Day public service announcement that encourages Americans to volunteer in the fight against hunger and announced the availability of new tools designed to increase access to the Food Stamp Program to help raise awareness of the resources available to those in need.

Veneman made the announcement during a National Hunger Awareness Day event at the Downtown Services Center in the First Congregational Church. National Hunger Awareness Day is a public information initiative started in 2002, by America’s Second Harvest to highlight the continued existence of hunger in America. The Bush Administration has joined with America’s Second Harvest and other faith and community-based organizations to show what Americans can do to combat hunger in their communities.

At the event, Veneman unveiled the public service announcement, which will be broadcast on television stations nationwide. Veneman was joined by community leaders and anti-hunger advocates honoring the commitment of volunteers in Washington, DC—and across the country—who are working to combat hunger in America.

“Ending hunger in America requires partnerships between the government, faith-and community-based organizations and, most importantly, the continued dedication of volunteers,” Veneman said. “Ensuring that all eligible individuals, families and especially our children, have access to the nutrition assistance they need is a top priority for the Bush Administration.

The President’s FY2004 budget reflects the continued commitment to the nutrition safety net by including a record of $42.9 billion for domestic food assistance programs, a $1.7 billion increase over FY2003. The budget request supports an estimated 21.6 million food stamp participants; a record level of 7.8 million low-income, nutritionally at risk, Women Infants and Children (WIC) participants; and, an average of 29 million school children each day in the School Lunch program. The budget also includes a $2 billion contingency reserve for food stamps and a $150 million contingency reserve for WIC to be available to cover unanticipated increases in participation on these programs.

USDA’s national nutrition safety net includes 15 food assistance programs. The cornerstone is the Food Stamp Program, which was created to make nutritious foods available for the people who are most in need. The program serves more than 20 million people, which is about 60 percent of those who are eligible to receive benefits.

As part of the Administration’s effort to make those eligible for the Food Stamp Program aware of the program benefits, Veneman announced “Step1,” a new pre-screening tool available via the Internet to help partner organizations help their clients determine their eligibility for Food Stamps and get an estimate of monthly benefits in as little as 15 minutes. Step 1 is an example of another Presidential initiative—the e government initiative—to use technology more effectively to deliver programs to the public. The tool can be accessed at www.FoodStamps-Step1.usda.gov or at www.govbenefits.gov

“USDA’s nutrition assistance programs provide an important safety net for those in need,” said Veneman. “Innovative e-government resources, like the Food Stamp Program pre-screening tool, will help more Americans know about nutrition assistance programs and access benefits.”

Veneman’s announcements closed a series of nation-wide National Hunger Awareness Day observances that began on Monday, June 2, with an announcement by Agriculture Deputy Secretary James Moseley of a partnership with the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association to increase participation in the Summer Feeding Program in Omaha, Nebraska. Throughout the week additional observances were held in communities in California, Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia. The events showcased USDA’s Food Stamp, National School Lunch and School Breakfast, Summer Food Service, and Women, Infants, Children (WIC) programs. Increasing participation in these programs is a priority for the Bush Administration.

USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service administers the Food Stamp, National School Lunch and School Breakfast, Summer Food Service, and Women, Infants, Children (WIC) programs. These programs enable low-income Americans to have access to nutritious food. Further information about these programs is available at www.fns.usda.gov.

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