TFAH Applauds Passage of Senate Farm Bill
(Washington, D.C., June 29, 2018) – John Auerbach, president and CEO, of Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) today made the following statement regarding Senate passage of “Farm Bill” legislation (the Agriculture Improvement Act – Senate amendment to H.R. 2) to reauthorize key federal agricultural and nutrition programs.
“The Trust for America’s Health is pleased the U.S. Senate has completed work on Farm Bill legislation that will support and promote good nutrition and improved health outcomes. By rejecting the approach taken by the House, the Senate bill largely protects and strengthens the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which serves as a critical lifeline to millions of American children and families that otherwise lack the means to access adequate nourishment and make healthy food choices.
In addition to increases in funding to the Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Pilot, the Senate bill includes a Harvesting Health pilot that would help to further promote linkages between health care providers and anti-hunger and nutrition improvement activities.
According to TFAH’s State of Obesity report, roughly two out of every three adults or one out of every three children is either obese or overweight. Obesity remains both a significant public health crisis and a national security issue-being overweight or obese is the leading cause of medical disqualifications for military service, with nearly one-quarter of applicants being rejected for exceeding the weight or body fat standards. Additionally, obesity translates to higher health care costs and poor quality of life.
Many efforts are underway that encourage SNAP recipients to make healthy food choices; for example, incentive programs to use SNAP benefits at farmers’ markets. Such efforts, combined with other prevention programs and policies, have been shown to be effective. We must now continue to invest in and scale such approaches to help Americans eat healthier. SNAP and other Farm Bill programs will be critical to turning the tide against this longstanding health problem.
TFAH looks forward to continuing to work with Congress through the conference process as it develops a final Farm Bill that will lead us in the right direction, towards improving the health and prosperity of all Americans.”
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Trust for America’s Health is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to saving lives by protecting the health of every community and working to make disease prevention a national priority.
