Testimony
Children's HealthWatch Research Presented to Legislators:
May 16, 2013: Dr. Deborah Frank, Children's HealthWatch Founder and Principal Investigator, and Dr. Megan Sandel, Children's HealthWatch Co-Principal Investigator, wrote a letter to Massachusetts State Senate President Therese Murray and Chairman Brewer, Chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, about family homeless in FY14 Senate Budget. Children's HealthWatch remains gravely concerned about restrictions on access to emergency shelter for homeless families.
Click here to read the letter.
May 15, 2013: Children's HealthWatch summarized our forthcoming analysis about the child health effects of lost or reduced Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. The research shows that when families lose SNAP they are more likely to be food insecure and to have a child in poor health and at risk of developmental delays. Children's HealthWatch urges Congress to consider these findings when making decisions about SNAP legislation in the Farm Bill
Click here to read the summary.
May 14, 2013: Children's HealthWatch has released a statement titled, Pediatric Health Professionals from around the Country Know SNAP is Good Medicine, affirming our support for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) given the strong scientific evidence showing the importance of SNAP for children’s health and development. As the Senate and House work on Farm Bill legislation that will determine the funding and structure of the SNAP program for the next five years, Children's HealthWatch urges Congress to protect and strengthen SNAP
Click here to read the statement.
April 10, 2013: As part of the Northeast Regional Anti-Hunger Network (NEHRAN), Children's HealthWatch submitted a letter to President Obama about steps that can be taken by the Executive Office to eliminate Childhood Hunger.
Click here to read the full letter.
October 25, 2012: Children's HealthWatch submitted comments to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) about the effect that Question 2 Part 3 of the Form I-485 (application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status) has on immigrant families who need nutrition, medical or other assistance. The question's wording is very unclear and can be misleading. We strongly urge the Department of Homeland Security and the Office of Management and Budget to amend the form by either removing this question or substantially revising it.
Click here to read the full letter.
October 22, 2012: Dr. Megan Sandel, Children's HealthWatch Co-Principal Investigator, submitted comments on behalf of Children's HealthWatch to the Massachusetts State Government and the Department of Housing and Community Development.
Click here to read the full letter.
October 11, 2012: Dr. John Cook, Children's HealthWatch Principal Investigator, submitted public comments on behalf of Children's HealthWatch to a request for information by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service. The request was for public comments to assist in determining the best way to focus research funds from the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Acts of 2010. These funds provide $10 million to the USDA for research on the causes, characteristics, and consequences of childhood hunger and food insecurity. The comments Children's HealthWatch submitted include recommended research areas such as maximizing the effectiveness of available supports for families with multiple hardships and the relationship between children with special health care needs and food insecurity.
Click here to read the full comments.
September 19, 2012: Children's HealthWatch Co-Principal Investigator, Dr. Maureen Black, spoke on a panel during a Congressional Briefing at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, DC. Feeding America and Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry campaign hosted this briefing to inform legislators about the prevalence of child hunger and what they can do to connect children with food in their districts. Dr. Black spoke about the health and cognition impacts of hunger and discussed the Children's HealthWatch report "The SNAP Vaccine." The report was also distributed to attendees.
Click here to view the flyer for the briefing.
July 30, 2012: Children's HealthWatch Principal Invesigators, Dr. Frank and Dr. Sandel wrote letters to Governor Patrick as well as the leadership in both the House and the Senate urging the necessity of clarifying the language in the FY 2013 budget regarding homeless shelter. Children's HealthWatch is concerned that the regulations stipulated in the budget would limit housing options for vulnerable children and families experiencing homelessness.
- Click here to read the letter to Governor Patrick.
- Click here to read the letter to the House Leadership.
- Click here to read the letter to the Senate Leadership.
May 17, 2012: Comments on the 2012 Farm Bill: Protect SNAP; Children cannot eat retroactively.
Click here to read the full letter.
House Agriculture Committee
May 4, 2012: Proposals to Restrict Access to Emergency Shelter for Children and Families
Dr. Frank, Letter
Massachussett Senate President and the Chair of the Senate Ways and Means.
February 17, 2012: Proposed Cuts to "Heat and Eat" SNAP Benefit Coordination
Children's HealthWatch Principal Investigators wrote a letter to Senate and House Agriculture Committee Leadership.
Click here to read the letter to the Senate Leadership.
Click here to read the letter to the House Leadership.
March 4, 2010: The public health crisis of food insecurity and interventions that work: The Child Nutrition Programs
Dr. Chilton, Testimony
US House of Representatives, Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies
June 16, 2009: Maintaining the State's Primary Homelessness Prevention Tool
Dr. Cook, Testimony
The Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program
February 12, 2009: Reauthorizing the Child Nutrition Programs
Dr. Frank, Testimony
US House of Representatives, Committee on the Budget
December 8, 2008: Promoting Health, Preventing Chronic Disease and Fighting Hunger, Assessment of USDA Food Assistance and Child Nutrition Programs in the Economic Downturn
Dr. Chilton, Testimony
US Senate, Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
July 29, 2008: Prenatal and Infancy Nutrition Briefing
Dr. Cook, Presentation
Briefing for Congressman Bobby Scott
July 23, 2008: The Short and Long Term Effects of Hunger in America
Dr. Cutts, Testimony
US House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture, Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nurtition, and Forestry
June 10, 2008: USDA Listening Session Hearing
Dr. Cook, Testimony
March 5, 2008: Why LIHEAP is Essential Hearing
Dr. Frank, Testimony
Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, Subcommittee on Children and Families, United States Senate
May 22, 2007: National
Dr. Frank, Presentation
Income and Family Support Panel of the National Summit for America's Children, convened by Speaker Pelosi, and Representatives DeLauro, Fatah, and Miller
April 4, 2007: Farm Bill Reauthorization
Dr. Chilton, Staff Briefing on the Food Stamp Program, Food Insecurity and Child Health and Well-being
United States Senate Agriculture Committee
March 13, 2007: Farm Bill Reauthorization
Dr. Chilton, Testimony
United States House of Representatives, Agriculture Committee, Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition and Forestry, Farm Bill Reauthorization Hearing
February 15, 2007: Farm Bill Reauthorization
Dr. Frank, Testimony
United States House of Representatives, Committee on the Budget, Farm Bill Reauthorization Hearing
January 18, 2007:
Dr. Chilton, Testimony
Pennsylvania Governor’s Interagency Council on Food and Nutrition Blueprint to End Hunger Summit
October 28, 2005: Farm Bill Reauthorization
Dr. Cook Testimony to United States Department of Agriculture/Food and Nutrition Service on Farm Bill Provisions for Food Stamps and Food Insecurity in Young Children
February 10, 2005: Welfare Reform Reauthorization
Dr. Frank, Testimony
United States House of Representatives, Ways and Means Committee, Subcommittee on Human Resources, Welfare Reform Reauthorization Hearing
July 16, 2003: Child Nutrition Program Reauthorization
Dr. Frank, Testimony
United States House of Representatives, Committee on Education and Workforce, Subcommittee on Education Reform, Child Nutrition Program Reauthorization Hearing
July 17, 2001: Food Stamp Program Hearing
Dr. Frank, Testimony
United States Senate, Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, Full Committee Hearing on the Nutrition Title of the New Federal Farm Bill
Letters to Government Agencies:
May 27, 2005: Children's HealthWatch Letter to USDA
Comment letter in response Economic Research Service request for renewal of approval for annual information collection on supplemental food security questions in the Current Population Survey
