Food Assistance Expenditures Increase in 2001

In fiscal 2001, Federal expenditures for domestic food assistance programs grew 4 percent, to $34 billion, the first increase in annual food assistance expenditures since fiscal 1996 (fig. 1). The Food Stamp Program accounted for much of the increase in fiscal 2001 expenditures, as declining economic conditions in the United States increased the number of people receiving food stamps. However, nearly all of the individual programs comprising the Nation's food assistance system expanded to varying degrees in fiscal 2001. USDA's Food and Nutrition Service administers an array of food assistance programs that differ by size, target population group, and type of benefits provided (see box). The goals of these programs are to provide needy persons with access to a more nutritious diet, to improve the eating habits of the Nation's children, and to help America's farmers by providing an outlet for the distribution of food purchased under farmer assistance authorities. Five programs-Food Stamp Program, National School Lunch Program, Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (commonly known as WIC), Child and Adult Care Food Program, and School Breakfast Program-together account for 92 percent of all Federal Government expenditures for food assistance. This article discusses how each of the individual programs expanded or contracted in fiscal 2001 (October 2000 through September 2001). The data cited in this article are based in part on preliminary data submitted by various reporting agencies as of November 2001 and are subject to change as reporting agencies finalize data.