Part 1-Vending Machine Competition With the National School Lunch Program, April 17, 1973. Part 2-Hunger in 1973, June 4, 1973. (II) Yeutter, Clayton K., Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture; Hekman, Edward J., administrator, Food and Nutrition Service Kocher, James, director, Food Stamp Division Meade, Laurel, administrator, Export Marketing Service- Continued statement of Mr. Yeutter__. USDA Statistics-Programs Remarkably Free of Fraud__ Food Assistance Programs-Fiscal Years 1969-1974___ SELECT COMMITTEE ON June 3, 1973. COMMITTEE TO HOLD HEARINGS ON "HUNGER-1973" REPORT The Select Committee on Nutrition and Human Needs will hold a public hearing next Monday, June 4, with Agriculture Secretary Earl Butz on the committee's most recent report. "Hunger-1973." Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) will chair the hearing, which is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. in Room 1114 of the Dirksen Building. Secretary Butz will be accompanied by departmental officials responsible for administering the Food Stamp, Surplus Food and Food-for-Peace Programs. Senator Kennedy said the focus of the hearing is the "Hunger-1973" committee report, which details the continuing hunger problem in the country. "First," Senator Kennedy said, "the report shows that the administration and participation of the Food Stamp and Surplus Food Program vary widely across the country-missing entirely some 12 million Americans who are classified as poverty stricken by the 1970 Census Report. "Second, it shows that the benefits available under both programs are being severely restricted by the current food cost crisis in the country. The basic food stamp allotment, a minimum diet at best, is becoming a hunger diet because of inflation. The Surplus Food Program no longer contains the most nutritious foods such as dried milk and fruits, cheese or meats. "The law requires that the Food Stamp Program permits the poor to purchase a nutritionally adequate diet; and, that the Government make every possible effort to insure that the eligible poor receive the benefits of the program. "Yet, after 4 years, the census figures and food program participation figures show that there are still some 263 "Hunger" counties in the country in which twothirds of the poor are receiving no food assistance. "The figures show that in three states alone-Texas, North Carolina and Virginia-almost 21⁄2 million of the poor are being bypassed by Federal food assistance efforts. "The figures also show that some 118 counties are reaching 10 percent or less of their eligible poor. "Despite this clear picture of continuing food assistance across the country, the Agriculture Department returned nearly $400 million in unspent food stamp funds to the Treasury last year, and will apparently return about the same amount this year. "These are funds that could be far better utilized by the poor and the hungry than by the Treasury. They could be used to improve the basic benefits in the program and the administration of the program to really insure that people can participate. "Finally, as an important sidelight to the hearing, the committee will explore the question of world hunger and food needs, particularly how that problem relates to our efforts to feed the hungry poor here at home and provide adequate food at reasonable prices to all our people." THE COMPLETE LIST OF WITNESSES FOLLOW Earl L. Butz, Secretary, United States Department of Agriculture. Clayton Yeutter, Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Consumer Services, USDA. Edward J. Hekman, Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service USDA. Howard Davis, Deputy Administrator for Programs, Food and Nutrition Service, USDA. Laurel C. Meade, General Sales Manager, Export Marketing Service, USDA. (IV) |