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Hunger Alert – June 2004

In This Issue:
1. Corporate Tax Loophole Rally June 9
2. ES2 Mini-Lobby Day at the Capitol on Thursday June 10th
3. Raise the State Minimum Wage to $7.10 an hour
4. The Faith and Hunger Network Listserv
5. SFSP: Free Meals For Kids All Summer Long!
6. FRAC: Child Nutrition Reauthorization
7. TANF Reauthorization
8. Proposed Legislation to Expand Education and Training for Safety Net
9. Hunger Action Network Albany Office to Move in July
10. NYC Council Hearing on Proposed Welfare Cuts, Tuesday, June 15 at 1 PM

1. Bust the Corporate Ghosts – Wed. June 9 rally State Capitol to Close Corporate Tax Loopholes

Little work is being done on the budget at the Capitol now that the April 1st budget deadline has passed. In addition to the hundreds of millions of dollars in cuts proposed for programs such as health care (Medicaid) and welfare, the state needs to eventually come up with billions to resolve the lawsuit over inequities in state funding of education.

On Wed. June 9 at noon, there will be a rally at the State Street entrance to the State Capitol. Like ghostly wisps, many multi-state and multi-national corporations are drifting through huge tax loopholes, allowing them to avoid a billion or more in state taxes each year. The result is that, over the past quarter century, state corporate income tax collections have shrunk by 60% relative to the size of the state economy

2. ES2 Mini-Lobby Day at the Capitol on Thursday June 10th

The ES2 campaign will hold a mini-lobby day at the State Capitol on Thursday June 10th to oppose cuts to welfare and Medicaid; support a raise in the state minimum wage; and, close corporate tax loopholes. Please contact us at 518 434-7371 if you would like to attend.

3. Raise the State Minimum Wage to $7.10 an hour

Letters are needed to Senator Bruno and other State Senators (LOB, Albany NY 12247) urging them to support S 3291C raising the state minimum wage to $7.10 an hour. The bill has already passed the State Assembly. 48 out of the 62 State Senators say they support an increase but Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno has not allowed it to come up for a vote. Or Call Senator Bruno at 518 455-3191.

At the federal level, urge Senators to support (S. 2730) to increase the federal hourly minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.00 an hour.

4. The Faith and Hunger Network Listserv

The Faith and Hunger Network is a joint effort by HANNYS, Bread for the World and local faith partners to increase anti-hunger advocacy among the faith community. Please help circulate the blurb below to individuals and groups who would be interested in receiving alerts from the Faith and Hunger Network.

The FHN Listserve is for general announcements related to Faith and Hunger Network in NYS, a joint project of Bread for the World and Hunger Action Network of NYS, as well as local and regional faith groups. Announcements would be biweekly and would include information about local FHN events as well as updates on state, federal and international hunger and poverty issues that FHN is working on. To subscribe, send an e-mail to dunleamark@aol.com or subscribe yourself at http://mail.hungeractionnys.org/mailman/listinfo/faithhunger_hungeractionnys.org

5. SFSP: Free Meals For Kids All Summer Long!

The Summer Food Service Program provides free nutritious food to children of all income levels under age eighteen during the summer months. This program is a vital resource for many New York families and it can prevent childhood hunger throughout our state. Yet it is greatly underutilized. To increase participation, please encourage the children in your area to utilize SFSP! For a list of all open sites in your community or for a promotional flyer, contact the Hunger Action Network or the Nutrition Consortium of NYS at 518-436-8757 ext. 16. As of July, you can call the SFSP hotline at 1-800-201-3694 for a list of local sites. You can also increase program participation by becoming a site sponsor to serve more children. Site sponsors are reimbursed for the cost of meals and bring federal dollars into communities. If you are interested in sponsorship, please contact Hunger Action.

6. FRAC Congressional Spotlight: Outlook for Child Nutrition and Other Priorities

Among a small number of issues to be worked out prior to Senate floor action on the Senate Agriculture Committee's child nutrition reauthorization bill is that of "competitive foods" (i.e. foods sold in competition with school meals programs). Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) is pressing for language that would establish local school wellness policies (as in the House-passed bill (H.R. 3873)), but also would call for a report with non-binding recommendations for standards for the sale and consumption of all foods sold at school to be shared (along with technical assistance and guidance) with all local school food authorities. During a condensed summer legislative period the Senate is expected to vote on its child nutrition reauthorization bill, it also could act on the FY 2005 Budget Resolution Conference Report, a minimum wage measure, and FY 2005 spending bills. The House may take up a Budget Process bill (separate from the Budget Resolution Conference Report); House appropriators are expected to mark up FY 2005 spending bills. (from FRAC)

7. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program Reauthorization Messages:

Senate action remains uncertain on TANF reauthorization. On any bill, urge Senators to support Lugar/Leahy anti-hunger amendment (Lugar Summer Food pilot program expansion, food donation enhancement bill (S. 85) and grant program for transporting perishable foods to food rescue organizations); support adequate funding for child care and other low-income family supports; oppose unrealistic increased work requirements; oppose "superwaiver" proposals; ameliorate lifetime benefit ban for drug felons; and support a minimum wage increase.

8. Proposed Legislation to Expand Education and Training for Safety Net

Currently, districts may assign households with children to a greater variety of work activities and count them toward the work requirements than they can for those Safety Net Assistance (SNA) households without children. Bills S 7279A / A11273 would allow districts to assign households without children to the same list of activities as they currently can for households with children.

9. Hunger Action Network Albany Office to Move in July

Hunger Action’s Albany office is moving into Emmanuel Baptist Church at the end of June. Volunteers are needed to help with the move. The new office address will be 275 State St., Albany NY 12210. Our phone, fax and email will remain the same.

10. New York City Council Hearing on Proposed Welfare Cuts, Tuesday, June 15 at 1 PM

The City Council General Welfare Committee will be holding an oversight hearing at which HRA Commissioner Verna Eggleston is scheduled to testify regarding sanctions and fair hearings. The hearing agenda will also deal with Resolution No. 154, Councilmember Martinez’ resolution opposing Governor Pataki’s welfare cuts. Hunger Action is slated to testify to support the Resolution. We urge you to help us pack the hearing room to show our concern for these important issues. Contact Vivian Horn, Hunger Action’s Legislative Organizer, (212) 741-8192, Ext 2# with any questions.