Economic downturn and USDA food assistance

Automakers may need a bailout package,but economic hard times are also hitting the food pantry. Sen. Tom Harkin has scheduled a hearing on the issue. This just slid across the inbox:

Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture Nutrition and Forestry, today announced a Committee hearing entitled: Assessment of USDA Food Assistance and Child Nutrition Programs in the Economic Downturn, Promoting Health and Fighting Hunger. The Committee will meet in open session at 1:00 P.M. on Monday, December 8, 2008 in Room 328A of the Russell Senate Office Building.

Witnesses for the proceedings include:

Panel I

Dr. Eileen Kennedy, Friedman School of Nutrition Policy and Science, Tufts University, Boston, MA

Dr. Mariana Chilton, Children’s Sentinel Nutrition Assessment Project, Philadelphia, PA

Ms. Mary Kay Fox, Mathematica Policy Research, Cambridge, MA

Ms. Carolyn Duff, School Nurse, AC Moore Elementary School, Columbia, SC