THIS IS A PRESS RELEASE FROM THE OFFICE OF UNITED STATES JAY ROCKEFELLER.

Washington, DC – In the face of a presidential veto threat, Senator Jay Rockefeller joined with 80 of his colleagues to vote for bipartisan legislation that would provide millions more in federal assistance to West Virginia families struggling to afford the increasing costs of food. The Senate voted 81-15 to pass the 2008 Farm Bill which includes more than $10.3 billion for child nutrition programs, food stamps and food banks nationwide. The legislation also includes millions for rural water and sewer infrastructure improvements.

“This infusion of federal funding for increased food stamp benefits and area food banks couldn’t have come at a better time. Everyone, especially children and seniors, deserves to have healthy and nutritious meals three times a day. That’s why parents need to be able to afford milk for their children, and seniors shouldn’t have to choose between buying life-saving medicine or filling their pantry,” Rockefeller said. “Incredibly, President Bush has threatened to veto this much needed help for our families because he claims it’s a massive give away to farmers. That’s just absolutely wrong, especially when rising gas prices are causing far too many West Virginia families to stretch their weekly paychecks even more.”

Rockefeller noted that although the legislation is known as the “Farm Bill” nearly 84 percent of the funding in the measure is directed at nutrition programs aimed at feeding low-income families – and not farmers.

The Food Stamp Program is the most effective entitlement program aimed at helping low-income families, seniors, and children receive healthy and nutritious meals. Last year 269,000 West Virginians were enrolled in the program each month – half of them children. The state received $274 million in 2007 with each recipient getting an average benefit of $82.95 each month. The legislation that Rockefeller voted for today will provide millions more to West Virginia.

Moreover, the Farm Bill ties future benefit increases to the rate of inflation. This assures that the buying power of food stamps will not diminish regardless of the economic conditions in the state or across the country. Additionally, the bill reverses a long-standing practice of making potential enrollees spend their life-savings before being able to qualify. By excluding retirement, long-term savings accounts, and extra income earned from combat pay the Food Stamp Program takes a step toward becoming a temporary form of assistance.

The Farm Bill also provides much needed funding for the nation’s food banks. A recent survey indicated that nationwide 84 percent of food banks are unable to meet the increased demand without having to severely reduce the amount of food that they distribute – or worse, reduce the number of people they serve. To help reduce this trend, Rockefeller voted to include over $1.26 billion in funding for the nation’s food banks over the next 10 years.

In addition to the nutrition programs, the Farm Bill contains millions in funding to help stimulate local economies by investing in rural infrastructure improvements, including, water and waste disposal grants and loans. The bill also makes important investments in fresh fruit and vegetables which have been previously excluded from other Farm Bills.

The U.S House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the Farm Bill earlier this week by a vote of 318-106. Rockefeller noted that the strong support in Congress for the Farm Bill will override any potential veto by President Bush.