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| Wilson Wants to Preserve Federal Food Program for Low-Income Seniors and Pregnant Women |
February 17, 2006 |
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16,500 New Mexicans Rely on Program for Nutritious Food
Albuquerque, NM - Congresswoman Heather Wilson wants the federal government to continue a successful food program for low-income New Mexicans, including seniors, women, and children. The President’s 2007 budget proposal eliminates funding for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), which provides nearly $1 million to New Mexico each year. The funding provides nutritional food packets to 16,500 low-income seniors, women, and children. If the budget proposal stands, New Mexicans will be cut-off from the program beginning this October, when the federal government’s new fiscal year kicks in.
Wilson has begun a push in Congress to restore funding for the program.
“Congresswoman Heather Wilson has taken a stand today that will impact the lives of more than 16,000 New Mexicans in the most basic way possible – they will continue to receive food that is crucial to their very well being. We applaud Congresswoman Wilson for being the first Representative in the nation to make a direct appeal to the House Budget Committee to restore the funding for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program in the FY ’07 Budget,” says Sarah Kaynor, the Executive Director of ECHO, Inc., which is a non-profit organization that runs the food program in New Mexico and provides services directly to low-income seniors and women.
New Mexico receives $986,686 to administer this federal program, providing assistance to 16,418 people. Nationally, more than 512,000 people each month participated in the program in 2005, including more than 459,000 elderly people and more than 52,000 women, infants, and children.
Wilson announced her support of the program today after touring Echo, Inc., the non-profit organization that runs the commodity program in New Mexico. Echo, Inc., which stands for “Economic Council Helping Others,” is a ‘Community Action Agency’ that runs several programs aimed at helping low-income New Mexicans. Wilson toured their food warehouse today and met with Echo, Inc. staff and clients.
“By taking such a leading position, Congresswoman Wilson is fighting for the most needy and vulnerable among us – seniors, young children and moms. She is to be commended for having the courage to take this issue head on and in such a public way,” concluded Echo Inc.’s Kaynor.
“Many elderly residents and low-income families in New Mexico depend on this program to provide food to meet basic nutritional needs,” says Wilson. “If you sit here in this warehouse for just a few minutes, you’ll see seniors and families coming by to get their groceries to feed their families. The program works and people depend on it.”
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