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The SNAP Nutrition Security Act: Strengthening Food Assistance in America
Introduction:
Are you concerned about food insecurity in America? Do you want to understand the complexities of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the ongoing efforts to improve it? This comprehensive guide delves into the SNAP Nutrition Security Act, exploring its aims, challenges, and potential impact on millions of Americans facing hunger. We'll dissect the key provisions, analyze its effectiveness, and discuss the ongoing debate surrounding its future. Prepare to gain a clear understanding of this crucial piece of legislation designed to bolster nutritional security for vulnerable populations.
Understanding the SNAP Program (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)
Before diving into the specifics of the SNAP Nutrition Security Act, it's vital to understand the foundation upon which it builds: the SNAP program itself. SNAP, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, provides low-income individuals and families with electronic benefits transferable at authorized retailers to purchase groceries. The program is a critical safety net, preventing millions from falling into deeper poverty and ensuring access to nutritious food. However, SNAP faces constant challenges, including fluctuating eligibility requirements, bureaucratic hurdles, and the ongoing struggle to meet the ever-growing need.
The SNAP Nutrition Security Act: Key Provisions and Objectives
The SNAP Nutrition Security Act (the exact name may vary depending on specific legislative proposals; for this article, we'll use "SNAP Nutrition Security Act" as a general term for legislation aimed at strengthening SNAP) aims to address these challenges and improve the program's effectiveness. While specific legislative proposals vary, common themes often include:
Increased benefits: Many proposed acts advocate for increasing the value of SNAP benefits to better reflect the rising cost of food and align with the poverty line. This aims to alleviate the struggles faced by recipients in affording sufficient nutritious food.
Simplified application process: Streamlining the application process, reducing bureaucratic red tape, and improving access to information are crucial elements. This includes making the application more accessible online and providing better support for applicants facing language barriers or technological limitations.
Expanded eligibility: Proposals often address broadening eligibility criteria to encompass a wider range of individuals and families facing food insecurity, including those working low-wage jobs or experiencing unexpected financial hardships. This might involve adjusting income thresholds or incorporating factors beyond income, such as childcare costs or medical expenses.
Improved nutrition standards: The act might advocate for policies that promote the purchase of healthier foods through incentives or restrictions on certain less-nutritious items. This could include encouraging the purchase of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
Strengthened state partnerships: Collaboration between federal and state agencies is vital for effective program implementation. Legislative acts often emphasize strengthening these partnerships to improve efficiency and responsiveness to local needs.
Challenges and Criticisms of the SNAP Nutrition Security Act
Despite the noble goals, the SNAP Nutrition Security Act faces numerous challenges and criticisms. These include:
Cost concerns: Increasing benefits and expanding eligibility significantly increase the overall cost of the program, leading to debates about the financial burden on taxpayers and the overall federal budget.
Potential for fraud and abuse: While safeguards exist, concerns about potential fraud and abuse persist. Strengthening oversight mechanisms and combating fraudulent activities are crucial aspects of ongoing discussions.
Work requirements and incentivization: Discussions regarding work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents remain contentious. Some argue that such requirements incentivize employment, while others highlight potential barriers to finding and maintaining jobs.
Long-term sustainability: Ensuring the long-term sustainability of the program requires careful financial planning, continuous evaluation, and adaptive strategies to address evolving economic conditions and population needs.
The Impact and Future of the SNAP Nutrition Security Act
The SNAP Nutrition Security Act, if successfully implemented, holds the potential to significantly impact millions of Americans. It could reduce food insecurity, improve nutritional outcomes, and contribute to overall economic stability within communities. However, the success of the act hinges on effective implementation, robust oversight, and ongoing evaluation to ensure it achieves its intended goals and adapts to changing circumstances.
A Proposed SNAP Nutrition Security Act Outline:
Title: The Strengthening American Families Through Nutritional Security Act
I. Introduction: Overview of food insecurity in America, the role of SNAP, and the need for legislative reform.
II. Current SNAP Program Challenges: Detailed analysis of existing shortcomings, including administrative burdens, benefit adequacy, and eligibility complexities.
III. Proposed Act Provisions:
A. Increased benefit levels: Specific proposals for benefit adjustments based on inflation and cost-of-living data.
B. Streamlined application process: Implementation of online applications, simplified forms, and improved customer service.
C. Expanded eligibility criteria: Detailed explanation of proposed changes to income thresholds and asset limits.
D. Nutrition education initiatives: Programs to promote healthy eating habits and improve food literacy among SNAP recipients.
E. State-level collaboration mechanisms: Enhanced partnerships between federal and state agencies to optimize program delivery.
IV. Impact Assessment: Projected impact on food insecurity rates, economic growth, and public health outcomes.
V. Funding Mechanisms: Detailed plan for financing the proposed changes, including potential revenue sources and budgetary considerations.
VI. Conclusion: Summary of the proposed act's benefits, challenges, and potential for long-term impact on American families.
Article Explaining Each Point of the Outline:
Each section of the outline would require its own detailed article. For example, Section III, "Proposed Act Provisions," would be broken down into five separate articles, one for each sub-section (A-E), each detailing the specific proposals, their rationale, potential challenges, and anticipated outcomes. The articles would incorporate data, statistics, and expert opinions to support the arguments.
FAQs:
1. What is the SNAP Nutrition Security Act? It's proposed legislation aiming to improve the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by increasing benefits, simplifying the application process, and expanding eligibility.
2. Who benefits from the SNAP Nutrition Security Act? Low-income individuals and families who rely on SNAP for food assistance would be the primary beneficiaries.
3. How will the SNAP Nutrition Security Act be funded? Funding mechanisms would likely involve a combination of increased federal spending, reallocation of existing resources, and potentially new revenue streams.
4. What are the potential drawbacks of the SNAP Nutrition Security Act? Concerns include increased costs to taxpayers, potential for fraud, and debates over work requirements.
5. How does the SNAP Nutrition Security Act address food insecurity? By increasing benefits and making the program more accessible, it aims to directly reduce the number of people experiencing hunger.
6. What is the difference between SNAP and the SNAP Nutrition Security Act? SNAP is the existing food assistance program. The Act is proposed legislation to reform and improve SNAP.
7. What are the long-term goals of the SNAP Nutrition Security Act? The long-term goal is to establish a more sustainable and effective food assistance program to ensure nutritional security for vulnerable populations.
8. How will the SNAP Nutrition Security Act impact state governments? Increased collaboration and coordination between federal and state agencies are anticipated, potentially shifting some responsibilities and administrative burdens.
9. Where can I find more information on the SNAP Nutrition Security Act? You can research legislative proposals on government websites, policy think tank reports, and news articles covering food security and welfare programs.
Related Articles:
1. The Impact of Inflation on SNAP Benefits: Examines how rising food costs affect SNAP recipients and the need for benefit adjustments.
2. SNAP Eligibility Requirements: A Comprehensive Guide: Explains the criteria for SNAP eligibility and the application process.
3. Combating SNAP Fraud and Abuse: Effective Strategies: Discusses measures to prevent and detect fraud within the SNAP program.
4. The Role of Technology in Improving SNAP Access: Explores how technology can streamline the application process and improve access for recipients.
5. The Relationship Between SNAP and Child Nutrition Programs: Analyzes the overlap and synergies between SNAP and other child-focused nutrition initiatives.
6. SNAP and Economic Development: A Community Perspective: Examines the economic impacts of SNAP benefits on local communities.
7. The Psychological Impact of Food Insecurity on SNAP Recipients: Explores the mental health consequences of food insecurity and the role of SNAP in mitigating these effects.
8. Comparing SNAP Programs Across Different States: Analyzes variations in SNAP implementation and benefits across different states.
9. The Future of Food Assistance Programs in the United States: Discusses the evolving landscape of food assistance and the challenges facing future programs.
| snap nutrition security act: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program National Research Council, Institute of Medicine, Committee on National Statistics, Food and Nutrition Board, Committee on Examination of the Adequacy of Food Resources and SNAP Allotments, 2013-04-23 For many Americans who live at or below the poverty threshold, access to healthy foods at a reasonable price is a challenge that often places a strain on already limited resources and may compel them to make food choices that are contrary to current nutritional guidance. To help alleviate this problem, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) administers a number of nutrition assistance programs designed to improve access to healthy foods for low-income individuals and households. The largest of these programs is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly called the Food Stamp Program, which today serves more than 46 million Americans with a program cost in excess of $75 billion annually. The goals of SNAP include raising the level of nutrition among low-income households and maintaining adequate levels of nutrition by increasing the food purchasing power of low-income families. In response to questions about whether there are different ways to define the adequacy of SNAP allotments consistent with the program goals of improving food security and access to a healthy diet, USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) asked the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to conduct a study to examine the feasibility of defining the adequacy of SNAP allotments, specifically: the feasibility of establishing an objective, evidence-based, science-driven definition of the adequacy of SNAP allotments consistent with the program goals of improving food security and access to a healthy diet, as well as other relevant dimensions of adequacy; and data and analyses needed to support an evidence-based assessment of the adequacy of SNAP allotments. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Examining the Evidence to Define Benefit Adequacy reviews the current evidence, including the peer-reviewed published literature and peer-reviewed government reports. Although not given equal weight with peer-reviewed publications, some non-peer-reviewed publications from nongovernmental organizations and stakeholder groups also were considered because they provided additional insight into the behavioral aspects of participation in nutrition assistance programs. In addition to its evidence review, the committee held a data gathering workshop that tapped a range of expertise relevant to its task. |
| snap nutrition security act: The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2020 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations , International Fund for Agricultural Development, World Food Programme, World Health Organization, The United Nations Children's Fund, 2020-07-01 Updates for many countries have made it possible to estimate hunger in the world with greater accuracy this year. In particular, newly accessible data enabled the revision of the entire series of undernourishment estimates for China back to 2000, resulting in a substantial downward shift of the series of the number of undernourished in the world. Nevertheless, the revision confirms the trend reported in past editions: the number of people affected by hunger globally has been slowly on the rise since 2014. The report also shows that the burden of malnutrition in all its forms continues to be a challenge. There has been some progress for child stunting, low birthweight and exclusive breastfeeding, but at a pace that is still too slow. Childhood overweight is not improving and adult obesity is on the rise in all regions. The report complements the usual assessment of food security and nutrition with projections of what the world may look like in 2030, if trends of the last decade continue. Projections show that the world is not on track to achieve Zero Hunger by 2030 and, despite some progress, most indicators are also not on track to meet global nutrition targets. The food security and nutritional status of the most vulnerable population groups is likely to deteriorate further due to the health and socio economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The report puts a spotlight on diet quality as a critical link between food security and nutrition. Meeting SDG 2 targets will only be possible if people have enough food to eat and if what they are eating is nutritious and affordable. The report also introduces new analysis of the cost and affordability of healthy diets around the world, by region and in different development contexts. It presents valuations of the health and climate-change costs associated with current food consumption patterns, as well as the potential cost savings if food consumption patterns were to shift towards healthy diets that include sustainability considerations. The report then concludes with a discussion of the policies and strategies to transform food systems to ensure affordable healthy diets, as part of the required efforts to end both hunger and all forms of malnutrition. |
| snap nutrition security act: Mickey Leland Childhood Hunger Relief Act United States. Congress. House. Committee on Agriculture. Subcommittee on Department Operations and Nutrition, 1993 |
| snap nutrition security act: Food Security, Poverty and Nutrition Policy Analysis Suresh Babu, Prabuddha Sanyal, 2009-04-06 Food Security, Poverty and Nutrition Analysis provides essential insights into the evaluative techniques necessary for creating appropriate and effective policies and programs to address these worldwide issues. Food scientists and nutritionists will use this important information, presented in a conceptual framework and through case studies for exploring representative problems, identifying and implementing appropriate methods of measurement and analysis, understanding examples of policy applications, and gaining valuable insight into the multidisciplinary requirements of successful implementation.This book provides core information in a format that provides not only the concept behind the method, but real-world applications giving the reader valuable, practical knowledge.* Identify proper analysis method, apply to available data, develop appropriate policy* Demonstrates analytical techniques using real-world scenario application to illustrate approaches for accurate evaluation improving understanding of practical application development* Tests reader comprehension of the statistical and analytical understanding vital to the creation of solutions for food insecurity, malnutrition and poverty-related nutrition issues using hands-on exercises |
| snap nutrition security act: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program United States. Congress. House. Committee on Agriculture. Subcommittee on Nutrition, United States. Congress. House. Committee on Agriculture, 2015 |
| snap nutrition security act: Routledge Handbook of Food and Nutrition Security Bill Pritchard, Rodomiro Ortiz, Meera Shekar, 2016-03-31 The concept of food and nutrition security has evolved and risen to the top of the international policy agenda over the last decade. Yet it is a complex and multi-faceted issue, requiring a broad and inter-disciplinary perspective for full understanding. This Handbook represents the most comprehensive compilation of our current knowledge of food and nutrition security from a global perspective. It is organized to reflect the wide scope of the contents, its four sections corresponding to the accepted current definitional frameworks prevailing in the work of multilateral agencies and mainstream scholarship. The first section addresses the struggles and progression of ideas and debates about the subject in recent years. The other sections focus on three key themes: how food has been, is and should be made available, including by improvements in agricultural productivity; the ways in which politico-economic and social arenas have shaped access to food; and the effects of food and nutrition systems in addressing human health, known as food utilisation. Overall, the volume synthesizes a vast field of information drawn from agriculture, soil science, climatology, economics, sociology, human and physical geography, the nutrition and health sciences, environmental science and development studies. |
| snap nutrition security act: The Farm Bill Daniel Imhoff, Christina Badaracoo, 2019 Daniel Imhoffs recently-published The Farm Bill: A Citizens Guide [is] a welcome and much-needed source for translating farm bill legalese ... [it is] a thorough and navigable history of the farm bill ... [that] hands readers the tools to take action. Foodprint Dan Imhoff does an extraordinary job of explaining an impenetrable bill with such clarity that we can't ignore the facts: that our current Farm Bill profoundly damages our organic farms, our environment, and our health. Just as extraordinary are the practical solutions Imhoff proposes for fixing the bill--humane policies that would support regenerative agriculture and our local farmers instead of tearing them down. Alice Waters, Executive Chef, Founder, and Owner, Chez Panisse Cuts to the core of dozens of issues Congress wrestles with every four years, and gives citizens sage advice for making their voices heard in a debate too often dominated by Big Ag, Big Food, and Big Money. Ken Cook, President and Cofounder, Environmental Working Group A must-read for those who truly care about how they feed themselves and their families. Michel Nischan, Founder and CEO, Wholesome Wave Readers will gain deep insight into the big barriers to Farm Bill reform, but also into the ripening opportunities for major change. Imhoff makes a strong case for why we should care and what it will take to transform policy. Ferd Hoefner, Strategic Senior Advisor, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition Dan Imhoff is the go-to person if you want to know both details and the full sweep of the Farm Bill. Wes Jackson, President Emeritus, The Land Institute. |
| snap nutrition security act: Hunger and Obesity Institute of Medicine, Food and Nutrition Board, 2011-06-26 At some point during 2009, more than 17 million households in the United States had difficulty providing enough food for all their members because of a lack of resources. In more than one-third of these households, the food intake of some household members was reduced and normal eating patterns were disrupted due to limited resources. The Workshop on Understanding the Relationship Between Food Insecurity and Obesity was held to explore the biological, economic, psychosocial, and other factors that may influence the relationship between food insecurity, overweight, and obesity in the United States. Hunger and Obesity examines current concepts and research findings in the field. The report identifies information gaps, proposes alternative approaches to analyzing data, recommends new data that should be collected, and addresses the limitations of the available research. |
| snap nutrition security act: Capitalism and Disability Marta Russell, 2019-08-06 Spread out over many years and many different publications, the late author and activist Marta Russell wrote a number of groundbreaking and insightful essays on the nature of disability and oppression under capitalism. In this volume, Russell’s various essays are brought together in one place in order to provide a useful and expansive resource to those interested in better understanding the ways in which the modern phenomenon of disability is shaped by capitalist economic and social relations. The essays range in analysis from the theoretical to the topical, including but not limited to: the emergence of disability as a “human category” rooted in the rise of industrial capitalism and the transformation of the conditions of work, family, and society corresponding thereto; a critique of the shortcomings of a purely “civil rights approach” to addressing the persistence of disability oppression in the economic sphere, with a particular focus on the legacy of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; an examination of the changing position of disabled people within the overall system of capitalist production utilizing the Marxist economic concepts of the reserve army of the unemployed, the labor theory of value, and the exploitation of wage-labor; the effects of neoliberal capitalist policies on the living conditions and social position of disabled people as it pertains to welfare, income assistance, health care, and other social security programs; imperialism and war as a factor in the further oppression and immiseration of disabled people within the United States and globally; and the need to build unity against the divisive tendencies which hide the common economic interest shared between disabled people and the often highly-exploited direct care workers who provide services to the former. |
| snap nutrition security act: Strengths of the Social Safety Net in the Great Recession Christopher J. O'Leary, David Stevens, Stephen A. Wandner, Michael Wiseman, 2019-08-22 The contributors in this book use administrative data from six states from before, during, and after the Great Recession to gauge the degree to which Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP) and Unemployment Insurance (UI) interacted. They also recommend ways that the program policies could be altered to better serve those suffering hardship as a result of future economic downturns. |
| snap nutrition security act: Ensuring Health & Nutritional Security Through Nutri- Sensitive Agriculture During Pandemic Dr. Pragati, |
| snap nutrition security act: Characteristics of Food Stamp Households , 1980 |
| snap nutrition security act: Means-Tested Transfer Programs in the United States National Bureau of Economic Research, 2003-10-15 Few United States government programs are as controversial as those designed to aid the poor. From tax credits to medical assistance, aid to needy families is surrounded by debate—on what benefits should be offered, what forms they should take, and how they should be administered. The past few decades, in fact, have seen this debate lead to broad transformations of aid programs themselves, with Aid to Families with Dependent Children replaced by Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, the Earned Income Tax Credit growing from a minor program to one of the most important for low-income families, and Medicaid greatly expanding its eligibility. This volume provides a remarkable overview of how such programs actually work, offering an impressive wealth of information on the nation's nine largest means-tested programs—that is, those in which some test of income forms the basis for participation. For each program, contributors describe origins and goals, summarize policy histories and current rules, and discuss the recipient's characteristics as well as the different types of benefits they receive. Each chapter then provides an overview of scholarly research on each program, bringing together the results of the field's most rigorous statistical examinations. The result is a fascinating portrayal of the evolution and current state of means-tested programs, one that charts a number of shifts in emphasis—the decline of cash assistance, for instance, and the increasing emphasis on work. This exemplary portrait of the nation's safety net will be an invaluable reference for anyone interested in American social policy. |
| snap nutrition security act: Investing in Interventions That Address Non-Medical, Health-Related Social Needs National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Health and Medicine Division, Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice, 2019-09-27 With U.S. health care costs projected to grow at an average rate of 5.5 percent per year from 2018 to 2027, or 0.8 percentage points faster than the gross domestic product, and reach nearly $6.0 trillion per year by 2027, policy makers and a wide range of stakeholders are searching for plausible actions the nation can take to slow this rise and keep health expenditures from consuming an ever greater portion of U.S. economic output. While health care services are essential to heath, there is growing recognition that social determinants of health are important influences on population health. Supporting this idea are estimates that while health care accounts for some 10 to 20 percent of the determinants of health, socioeconomic factors and factors related to the physical environment are estimated to account for up to 50 percent of the determinants of health. Challenges related to the social determinants of health at the individual level include housing insecurity and poor housing quality, food insecurity, limitations in access to transportation, and lack of social support. These social needs affect access to care and health care utilization as well as health outcomes. Health care systems have begun exploring ways to address non-medical, health-related social needs as a way to reduce health care costs. To explore the potential effect of addressing non-medical health-related social needs on improving population health and reducing health care spending in a value-driven health care delivery system, the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine held a full-day public workshop titled Investing in Interventions that Address Non-Medical, Health-Related Social Needs on April 26, 2019, in Washington, DC. The objectives of the workshop were to explore effective practices and the supporting evidence base for addressing the non-medical health-related social needs of individuals, such as housing and food insecurities; review assessments of return on investment (ROI) for payers, healthy systems, and communities; and identify gaps and opportunities for research and steps that could help to further the understanding of the ROI on addressing non-medical health-related social needs. This publication summarizes the presentations and discussions from the workshop. |
| snap nutrition security act: My New Roots Sarah Britton, 2015-03-31 Holistic nutritionist and highly-regarded blogger Sarah Britton presents a refreshing, straight-forward approach to balancing mind, body, and spirit through a diet made up of whole foods. Sarah Britton's approach to plant-based cuisine is about satisfaction--foods that satiate on a physical, emotional, and spiritual level. Based on her knowledge of nutrition and her love of cooking, Sarah Britton crafts recipes made from organic vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, lentils, nuts, and seeds. She explains how a diet based on whole foods allows the body to regulate itself, eliminating the need to count calories. My New Roots draws on the enormous appeal of Sarah Britton's blog, which strikes the perfect balance between healthy and delicious food. She is a whole food lover, a cook who makes simple accessible plant-based meals that are a pleasure to eat and a joy to make. This book takes its cues from the rhythms of the earth, showcasing 100 seasonal recipes. Sarah simmers thinly sliced celery root until it mimics pasta for Butternut Squash Lasagna, and whips up easy raw chocolate to make homemade chocolate-nut butter candy cups. Her recipes are not about sacrifice, deprivation, or labels--they are about enjoying delicious food that's also good for you. |
| snap nutrition security act: Food Policy in the United States Parke Wilde, 2013 This book offers a broad introduction to food policies in the United States. Real-world controversies and debates motivate the book's attention to economic principles, policy analysis, nutrition science and contemporary data sources. It assumes that the reader's concern is not just the economic interests of farmers, but also includes nutrition, sustainable agriculture, the environment and food security. The book's goal is to make US food policy more comprehensible to those inside and outside the agri-food sector whose interests and aspirations have been ignored. The chapters cover US agriculture, food production and the environment, international agricultural trade, food and beverage manufacturing, food retail and restaurants, food safety, dietary guidance, food labeling, advertising and federal food assistance programs for the poor. The author is an agricultural economist with many years of experience in the non-profit advocacy sector, the US Department of Agriculture and as a professor at Tufts University. The author's well-known blog on US food policy provides a forum for discussion and debate of the issues set out in the book. |
| snap nutrition security act: School Meals Institute of Medicine, Food and Nutrition Board, Committee on Nutrition Standards for National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs, 2010-03-16 Ensuring that the food provided to children in schools is consistent with current dietary recommendations is an important national focus. Various laws and regulations govern the operation of school meal programs. In 1995, Nutrition Standards and Meal Requirements were put in place to ensure that all meals offered would be high in nutritional quality. School Meals reviews and provides recommendations to update the nutrition standard and the meal requirements for the National School Breakfast and Lunch Programs. The recommendations reflect new developments in nutrition science, increase the availability of key food groups in the school meal programs, and allow these programs to better meet the nutritional needs of children, foster healthy eating habits, and safeguard children's health. School Meals sets standards for menu planning that focus on food groups, calories, saturated fat, and sodium and that incorporate Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the Dietary Reference Intakes. This book will be used as a guide for school food authorities, food producers, policy leaders, state/local governments, and parents. |
| snap nutrition security act: Tcl/Tk in a Nutshell Paul Raines, Jeff Tranter, 1999-03-25 The Tcl language and Tk graphical toolkit are simple and powerful building blocks for custom applications. The Tcl/Tk combination is increasingly popular because it lets you produce sophisticated graphical interfaces with a few easy commands, develop and change scripts quickly, and conveniently tie together existing utilities or programming libraries.One of the attractive features of Tcl/Tk is the wide variety of commands, many offering a wealth of options. Most of the things you'd like to do have been anticipated by the language's creator, John Ousterhout, or one of the developers of Tcl/Tk's many powerful extensions. Thus, you'll find that a command or option probably exists to provide just what you need.And that's why it's valuable to have a quick reference that briefly describes every command and option in the core Tcl/Tk distribution as well as the most popular extensions. Keep this book on your desk as you write scripts, and you'll be able to find almost instantly the particular option you need.Most chapters consist of alphabetical listings. Since Tk and mega-widget packages break down commands by widget, the chapters on these topics are organized by widget along with a section of core commands where appropriate. Contents include: Core Tcl and Tk commands and Tk widgets C interface (prototypes) Expect [incr Tcl] and [incr Tk] Tix TclX BLT Oratcl, SybTcl, and Tclodbc |
| snap nutrition security act: All You Can Eat Joel Berg, 2011-01-04 With the biting wit of Supersize Me and the passion of a lifelong activist, Joel Berg has his eye on the growing number of people who are forced to wait on lines at food pantries across the nation—the modern breadline. All You Can Eat reveals that hunger is a problem as American as apple pie, and shows what it is like when your income is not enough to cover rising housing and living costs and put food on the table. Berg takes to task politicians who remain inactive; the media, which ignores hunger except during holidays and hurricanes; and the food industry, which makes fattening, artery-clogging fast food more accessible to the nation's poor than healthy fare. He challenges the new president to confront the most unthinkable result of US poverty—hunger—and offers a simple and affordable plan to end it for good. A spirited call to action, All You Can Eat shows how practical solutions for hungry Americans will ultimately benefit America's economy and all of its citizens. |
| snap nutrition security act: Does SNAP Decrease Food Insecurity? Mark Nord, 2009 Self-selection by more food-needy households into the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly called the Food Stamp Program) makes it difficult to observe positive effects of the program in survey data. This study investigates self-selection and ameliorative program effects by examining households¿ food security month by month for several months prior to initial receipt of SNAP benefits and for several months after joining the program. Food security is observed to deteriorate in the 6 months prior to beginning to receive SNAP benefits and to improve shortly after. The results clearly demonstrate the self-selection by households into SNAP at a time when they are more severely food insecure. Charts and tables. |
| snap nutrition security act: Mickey Leland Childhood Hunger Relief Act United States. Congress. House. Committee on Agriculture, 1991 |
| snap nutrition security act: A Safety Net That Works Robert Doar, 2017-02-13 This is an edited volume reviewing the major means-tested social programs in the United States. Each author addresses a major program or area, reviewing each area’s successes and recommending how to address shortcomings through policy change. In general, our means-tested programs do many things well, but some adjustments to each could make the system much more effective. This book provides policymakers with a broad overview of the issues at hand in each program and how to address them. |
| snap nutrition security act: Working Effectively with Legacy Code Michael Feathers, 2004-09-22 Get more out of your legacy systems: more performance, functionality, reliability, and manageability Is your code easy to change? Can you get nearly instantaneous feedback when you do change it? Do you understand it? If the answer to any of these questions is no, you have legacy code, and it is draining time and money away from your development efforts. In this book, Michael Feathers offers start-to-finish strategies for working more effectively with large, untested legacy code bases. This book draws on material Michael created for his renowned Object Mentor seminars: techniques Michael has used in mentoring to help hundreds of developers, technical managers, and testers bring their legacy systems under control. The topics covered include Understanding the mechanics of software change: adding features, fixing bugs, improving design, optimizing performance Getting legacy code into a test harness Writing tests that protect you against introducing new problems Techniques that can be used with any language or platform—with examples in Java, C++, C, and C# Accurately identifying where code changes need to be made Coping with legacy systems that aren't object-oriented Handling applications that don't seem to have any structure This book also includes a catalog of twenty-four dependency-breaking techniques that help you work with program elements in isolation and make safer changes. |
| snap nutrition security act: Breadlines Knee-Deep in Wheat Janet Poppendieck, 2014-04-26 At no time during the Great Depression was the contradiction between agriculture surplus and widespread hunger more wrenchingly graphic than in the government's attempt to raise pork prices through the mass slaughter of miliions of unripe little pigs. This contradiction was widely perceived as a paradox. In fact, as Janet Poppendieck makes clear in this newly expanded and updated volume, it was a normal, predictable working of an economic system rendered extreme by the Depression. The notion of paradox, however, captured the imagination of the public and policy makers, and it was to this definition of the problem that surplus commodities distribution programs in the Hoover and Roosevelt administrations were addressed. This book explains in readable narrative how the New Deal food assistance effort, originally conceived as a relief measure for poor people, became a program designed to raise the incomes of commercial farmers. In a broader sense, the book explains how the New Deal years were formative for food assistance in subsequent administrations; it also examines the performance--or lack of performance--of subsequent in-kind relief programs. Beginning with a brief survey of the history of the American farmer before the depression and the impact of the Depression on farmers, the author describes the development of Hoover assistance programs and the events at the end of that administration that shaped the historical moment seized by the early New Deal. Poppendieck goes on to analyze the food assistance policies and programs of the Roosevelt years, the particular series of events that culminated in the decision to purchase surplus agriculture products and distribute them to the poor, the institutionalization of this approach, the resutls achieved, and the interest groups formed. The book also looks at the takeover of food assistance by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and its gradual adaptation for use as a tool in the maintenance of farm income. Utliizing a wide variety of official and unofficial sources, the author reveals with unusual clarity the evolution from a policy directly responsive to the poor to a policy serving mainly democratic needs. |
| snap nutrition security act: The 1.5 Billion People Question Harold Alderman, Ugo Gentilini, Ruslan Yemtsov, 2017-10-12 Most of the people in low and middle-income countries covered by social protection receive assistance in the form of in-kind food. The origin of such support is rooted in countries’ historical pursuit of three interconnected objectives, namely attaining self-sufficiency in food, managing domestic food prices, and providing income support to the poor. This volume sheds light on the complex, bumpy and non-linear process of how some flagship food-based social protection programs have evolved over time, and how they currently work. In particular, it lays out the broad trends in reforms, including a growing move from in-kind modalities to cash transfers, from universality to targeting, and from agriculture to social protection. Case studies from Egypt, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Sri Lanka, and United States document the specific experiences of managing the process of reform and implementation, including enhancing our understanding of the opportunities and challenges with different social protection transfer modalities. |
| snap nutrition security act: Income Averaging United States. Internal Revenue Service, 1985 |
| snap nutrition security act: Sustainable Market Farming Pam Dawling, 2013-02-01 Growing for 100 - the complete year-round guide for the small-scale market grower. Across North America, an agricultural renaissance is unfolding. A growing number of market gardeners are emerging to feed our appetite for organic, regional produce. But most of the available resources on food production are aimed at the backyard or hobby gardener who wants to supplement their family's diet with a few homegrown fruits and vegetables. Targeted at serious growers in every climate zone, Sustainable Market Farming is a comprehensive manual for small-scale farmers raising organic crops sustainably on a few acres. Informed by the author's extensive experience growing a wide variety of fresh, organic vegetables and fruit to feed the approximately one hundred members of Twin Oaks Community in central Virginia, this practical guide provides: Detailed profiles of a full range of crops, addressing sowing, cultivation, rotation, succession, common pests and diseases, and harvest and storage Information about new, efficient techniques, season extension, and disease resistant varieties Farm-specific business skills to help ensure a successful, profitable enterprise Whether you are a beginning market grower or an established enterprise seeking to improve your skills, Sustainable Market Farming is an invaluable resource and a timely book for the maturing local agriculture movement. |
| snap nutrition security act: Food Security, Poverty and Nutrition Policy Analysis Suresh Babu, Shailendra Gajanan, 2021-09-21 Food Security, Poverty and Nutrition Policy Analysis: Statistical Methods and Applications, Third Edition combines statistical data analysis and computer literacy, applying the results to develop policy alternatives through a series of statistical methods for real world food insecurity, malnutrition and poverty problems. The book presents the latest uses of statistical methods for policy analysis using the open source statistical environment R, in addition to having the original Stata files and applications. A new chapter on obesity brings in new datasets for analysis to effectively demonstrate the use of such data for addressing policy issues. Finally, program evaluation methods which can be directly applied to the data on food security, nutrition, poverty indicators and causal factors are included. This unique, real-world data takes the reader through a hands-on approach toward econometric practice whereby they can also test the effects of policy and program interventions. Further, this is the first book to explore actual data with STATA and R statistical packages that also provides a line-by-line guide to the programming and interpretation of results. - Provides a fully revised and updated tome on the latest technology, assessment advances and policy insights surrounding food security - Combines case-studies with data-based analysis - Includes self-contained, downloadable datasets, statistical appendices, computer programs, and interpretations of the results for policy applications |
| snap nutrition security act: Food Politics Marion Nestle, 2013-05-14 We all witness, in advertising and on supermarket shelves, the fierce competition for our food dollars. In this engrossing exposé, Marion Nestle goes behind the scenes to reveal how the competition really works and how it affects our health. The abundance of food in the United States--enough calories to meet the needs of every man, woman, and child twice over--has a downside. Our over-efficient food industry must do everything possible to persuade people to eat more--more food, more often, and in larger portions--no matter what it does to waistlines or well-being. Like manufacturing cigarettes or building weapons, making food is big business. Food companies in 2000 generated nearly $900 billion in sales. They have stakeholders to please, shareholders to satisfy, and government regulations to deal with. It is nevertheless shocking to learn precisely how food companies lobby officials, co-opt experts, and expand sales by marketing to children, members of minority groups, and people in developing countries. We learn that the food industry plays politics as well as or better than other industries, not least because so much of its activity takes place outside the public view. Editor of the 1988 Surgeon General's Report on Nutrition and Health, Nestle is uniquely qualified to lead us through the maze of food industry interests and influences. She vividly illustrates food politics in action: watered-down government dietary advice, schools pushing soft drinks, diet supplements promoted as if they were First Amendment rights. When it comes to the mass production and consumption of food, strategic decisions are driven by economics--not science, not common sense, and certainly not health. No wonder most of us are thoroughly confused about what to eat to stay healthy. An accessible and balanced account, Food Politics will forever change the way we respond to food industry marketing practices. By explaining how much the food industry influences government nutrition policies and how cleverly it links its interests to those of nutrition experts, this path-breaking book helps us understand more clearly than ever before what we eat and why. |
| snap nutrition security act: Review of WIC Food Packages National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Health and Medicine Division, Food and Nutrition Board, Committee to Review WIC Food Packages, 2017-06-25 The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) began 40 years ago as a pilot program and has since grown to serve over 8 million pregnant women, and mothers of and their infants and young children. Today the program serves more than a quarter of the pregnant women and half of the infants in the United States, at an annual cost of about $6.2 billion. Through its contribution to the nutritional needs of pregnant, breastfeeding, and post-partum women; infants; and children under 5 years of age; this federally supported nutrition assistance program is integral to meeting national nutrition policy goals for a significant portion of the U.S. population. To assure the continued success of the WIC, Congress mandated that the Food and Nutrition Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reevaluate the program's food packages every 10 years. In 2014, the USDA asked the Institute of Medicine to undertake this reevaluation to ensure continued alignment with the goals of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. In this third report, the committee provides its final analyses, recommendations, and the supporting rationale. |
| snap nutrition security act: Legislative Calendar United States. Congress. House. Committee on Agriculture, |
| snap nutrition security act: Vibrant and Healthy Kids National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Health and Medicine Division, Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice, Committee on Applying Neurobiological and Socio-Behavioral Sciences from Prenatal Through Early Childhood Development: A Health Equity Approach, 2019-12-27 Children are the foundation of the United States, and supporting them is a key component of building a successful future. However, millions of children face health inequities that compromise their development, well-being, and long-term outcomes, despite substantial scientific evidence about how those adversities contribute to poor health. Advancements in neurobiological and socio-behavioral science show that critical biological systems develop in the prenatal through early childhood periods, and neurobiological development is extremely responsive to environmental influences during these stages. Consequently, social, economic, cultural, and environmental factors significantly affect a child's health ecosystem and ability to thrive throughout adulthood. Vibrant and Healthy Kids: Aligning Science, Practice, and Policy to Advance Health Equity builds upon and updates research from Communities in Action: Pathways to Health Equity (2017) and From Neurons to Neighborhoods: The Science of Early Childhood Development (2000). This report provides a brief overview of stressors that affect childhood development and health, a framework for applying current brain and development science to the real world, a roadmap for implementing tailored interventions, and recommendations about improving systems to better align with our understanding of the significant impact of health equity. |
| snap nutrition security act: Soda Politics Marion Nestle, 2015-09-07 Sodas are astonishing products. Little more than flavored sugar-water, these drinks cost practically nothing to produce or buy, yet have turned their makers--principally Coca-Cola and PepsiCo--into a multibillion-dollar industry with global recognition, distribution, and political power. Billed as refreshing, tasty, crisp, and the real thing, sodas also happen to be so well established to contribute to poor dental hygiene, higher calorie intake, obesity, and type-2 diabetes that the first line of defense against any of these conditions is to simply stop drinking them. Habitually drinking large volumes of soda not only harms individual health, but also burdens societies with runaway healthcare costs. So how did products containing absurdly inexpensive ingredients become multibillion dollar industries and international brand icons, while also having a devastating impact on public health? In Soda Politics, the 2016 James Beard Award for Writing & Literature Winner, Dr. Marion Nestle answers this question by detailing all of the ways that the soft drink industry works overtime to make drinking soda as common and accepted as drinking water, for adults and children. Dr. Nestle, a renowned food and nutrition policy expert and public health advocate, shows how sodas are principally miracles of advertising; Coca-Cola and PepsiCo spend billions of dollars each year to promote their sale to children, minorities, and low-income populations, in developing as well as industrialized nations. And once they have stimulated that demand, they leave no stone unturned to protect profits. That includes lobbying to prevent any measures that would discourage soda sales, strategically donating money to health organizations and researchers who can make the science about sodas appear confusing, and engaging in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities to create goodwill and silence critics. Soda Politics follows the money trail wherever it leads, revealing how hard Big Soda works to sell as much of their products as possible to an increasingly obese world. But Soda Politics does more than just diagnose a problem--it encourages readers to help find solutions. From Berkeley to Mexico City and beyond, advocates are successfully countering the relentless marketing, promotion, and political protection of sugary drinks. And their actions are having an impact--for all of the hardball and softball tactics the soft drink industry employs to maintain the status quo, soda consumption has been flat or falling for years. Health advocacy campaigns are now the single greatest threat to soda companies' profits. Soda Politics provides readers with the tools they need to keep up pressure on Big Soda in order to build healthier and more sustainable food systems. |
| snap nutrition security act: A Guide to Federal Terms and Acronyms Don Philpott, 2017-12-20 Navigating government documents is a task that requires considerable knowledge of specialized terms and acronyms. This required knowledge nearly amounts to knowing a completely different language. To those who are not fluent, the task can be overwhelming, as federal departments fill their documents with acronyms, abbreviations, and terms that mean little or nothing to the outsider. Would you be able to make sense of a document that described how the COTR reports to the CO regarding compliance with FAR, GPRA, SARA, and FASA? (This is a common procedure in government contracting.) Would you have any clue what was being referred to if you came across MIL-STD-129P? (It is the new standard for Military Shipping Label Requirements.) The sheer number of such terms makes mastering them nearly impossible. But now, these terms and their definitions are within reach. This new edition of A Guide to Federal Terms and Acronyms presents a glossary of key definitions used by the federal government. It is updated to include new acronyms and terminology from various federal government departments. It covers the most common terms, acronyms, and abbreviations used by each major agency, presenting definitions and explanations in a user-friendly and accessible way. This is an essential tool for anyone who works with federal government information. |
| snap nutrition security act: Causes and Management of Nutritional Deficiency Disorders Nayak, Ajanta, Misra, Snigdha, 2024-07-10 Pervasive nutritional deficiency disorders impact overall health, cognitive development, and susceptibility to chronic diseases. The absence of vital nutrients leads to weakened immune systems, stunted growth, cognitive impairments, and increased disease vulnerability. Particularly affecting vulnerable populations such as infants, children, pregnant women, and the elderly, these deficiencies pose risks that extend from compromised academic performance to chronic health issues. Causes and Management of Nutritional Deficiency Disorders delves into the web of nutrition-related challenges, exploring the root causes and effective management strategies that form the backbone of this indispensable resource. The book sheds light on the critical importance of addressing nutritional deficiencies, beginning with the profound impact on physical health. Essential nutrients, from proteins to vitamins and minerals, are dissected in detail, unveiling their pivotal roles in immune system fortification, growth and development, bone health, and cardiovascular well-being. |
| snap nutrition security act: The Kickass Single Mom Emma Johnson, 2017-10-17 When Emma Johnson's marriage ended she found herself broke, pregnant, and alone with a toddler. Searching for the advice she needed to navigate her new life as a single professional woman and parent, she discovered there was very little sage wisdom available. In response, Johnson launched the popular blog Wealthysinglemommy.com to speak to other women who, like herself, wanted to not just survive but thrive as single moms. Now, in this complete guide to single motherhood, Johnson guides women in confronting the naysayers in their lives (and in their own minds) to build a thriving career, achieve financial security, and to reignite their romantic life—all while being a kickass parent to their kids. The Kickass Single Mom shows readers how to: • Build a new life that is entirely on their own terms. • Find the time to devote to health, hobbies, friendships, faith, community and travel. • Be a joyful, present and fun mom, and proud role model to your kids. Full of practical advice and inspiration from Emma's life, as well as other successful single moms, this is a must-have resource for any single mom. |
| snap nutrition security act: Global Perspectives on Childhood Obesity Debasis Bagchi, 2010-10-12 Understanding the complex factors contributing to the growing childhood obesity epidemic is vital not only for the improved health of the world's future generations, but for the healthcare system. The impact of childhood obesity reaches beyond the individual family and into the public arenas of social systems and government policy and programs. Global Perspectives on Childhood Obesity explores these with an approach that considers the current state of childhood obesity around the world as well as future projections, the most highly cited factors contributing to childhood obesity, what it means for the future both for children and society, and suggestions for steps to address and potentially prevent childhood obesity. - This book will cover the multi-faceted factors contributing to the rapidly growing childhood obesity epidemic - The underlying causes and current status of rapidly growing obesity epidemic in children in the global scenario will be discussed - The strategies for childhood obesity prevention and treatment such as physical activity and exercise, personalized nutrition plans and school and community involvement will be presented |
| snap nutrition security act: Prevention First Anand K. Parekh, 2024-10-29 Deaths from preventable diseases have decreased life expectancy in the United States for the first time in a century, making it clear that we must deal with the crisis by embracing prevention as our nation's top health sector priority. In Prevention First, Dr. Anand K. Parekh, chief medical advisor of the Bipartisan Policy Center, argues that disease prevention must be our nation's top health policy priority. Building a personal culture of prevention, he writes, is not enough; elected officials and policymakers must play a greater role in reducing preventable deaths. This second edition includes important new developments in health policy, including US responses to and lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and the addition of learning objectives and key takeaways in each chapter to aid students and faculty. Drawing on his experiences as a clinician, public servant, and policy advisor, Dr. Parekh provides examples of prevention in action from across the country, giving readers a view into why prevention-first policies are important and how they can be accomplished. Throughout the book, he demonstrates that, in order to optimize health in America, we must leverage health insurance programs to promote disease prevention, expand primary care, attend to the social determinants of health, support making the healthier choice the easy choice for individuals, and increase public health investments. Providing concrete steps that federal policymakers should take to promote prevention both within and outside our healthcare sector, Prevention First not only sounds the alarm about the terrible consequences of preventable disease but serves as a rallying cry that we can and must do better in this country to reduce preventable deaths. |
| snap nutrition security act: Big Hunger Andrew Fisher, 2018-04-13 How to focus anti-hunger efforts not on charity but on the root causes of food insecurity, improving public health, and reducing income inequality. Food banks and food pantries have proliferated in response to an economic emergency. The loss of manufacturing jobs combined with the recession of the early 1980s and Reagan administration cutbacks in federal programs led to an explosion in the growth of food charity. This was meant to be a stopgap measure, but the jobs never came back, and the “emergency food system” became an industry. In Big Hunger, Andrew Fisher takes a critical look at the business of hunger and offers a new vision for the anti-hunger movement. From one perspective, anti-hunger leaders have been extraordinarily effective. Food charity is embedded in American civil society, and federal food programs have remained intact while other anti-poverty programs have been eliminated or slashed. But anti-hunger advocates are missing an essential element of the problem: economic inequality driven by low wages. Reliant on corporate donations of food and money, anti-hunger organizations have failed to hold business accountable for offshoring jobs, cutting benefits, exploiting workers and rural communities, and resisting wage increases. They have become part of a “hunger industrial complex” that seems as self-perpetuating as the more famous military-industrial complex. Fisher lays out a vision that encompasses a broader definition of hunger characterized by a focus on public health, economic justice, and economic democracy. He points to the work of numerous grassroots organizations that are leading the way in these fields as models for the rest of the anti-hunger sector. It is only through approaches like these that we can hope to end hunger, not just manage it. |
| snap nutrition security act: How the Other Half Eats Priya Fielding-Singh, 2023-05-02 A deeply empathetic (Publishers Weekly, starred review) must-read (Marion Nestle) that weaves lyrical storytelling and fascinating research into a compelling narrative (San Francisco Chronicle) to look at dietary differences along class lines and nutritional disparities in America, illuminating exactly how inequality starts on the dinner plate. Inequality in America manifests in many ways, but perhaps nowhere more than in how we eat. From her years of field research, sociologist and ethnographer Priya Fielding-Singh brings us into the kitchens of dozens of families from varied educational, economic, and ethnoracial backgrounds to explore how--and why--we eat the way we do. We get to know four families intimately: the Bakers, a Black family living below the federal poverty line; the Williamses, a working-class white family just above it; the Ortegas, a middle-class Latinx family; and the Cains, an affluent white family. Whether it's worrying about how far pantry provisions can stretch or whether there's enough time to get dinner on the table before soccer practice, all families have unique experiences that reveal their particular dietary constraints and challenges. By diving into the nuances of these families' lives, Fielding-Singh lays bare the limits of efforts narrowly focused on improving families' food access. Instead, she reveals how being rich or poor in America impacts something even more fundamental than the food families can afford: these experiences impact the very meaning of food itself. Packed with lyrical storytelling and groundbreaking research, as well as Fielding-Singh's personal experiences with food as a biracial, South Asian American woman, How the Other Half Eats illuminates exactly how inequality starts on the dinner plate. Once you've taken a seat at tables across America, you'll never think about class, food, and public health the same way again. |
