ADVISORY, July 16, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --
| WHAT/WHO: | Capitol Hill briefing on findings and recommendations from the most |
| comprehensive public health study conducted to date on SNAP, the | |
| Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly known as the Food Stamp | |
| Program). SNAP serves as a critical safety net for 46.2 million Americans, 50 | |
| percent of whom are children under the age of 19. | |
| Speakers will include Members of Congress and: | |
| -- Susan Blumenthal, M.D., M.P.A. | |
| Director, Health and Medicine Program, Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress; | |
| Former U.S. Assistant Surgeon General; Project Director, SNAP to Health Initiative | |
| -- Walter Willett, M.D., Dr.P.H. | |
| Chairman and Frederick John Stare Professor of Epidemiology and Nutrition, Food Studies and | |
| Public Health, Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health | |
| -- Marion Nestle, Ph.D., M.P.H. | |
| Paulette Goddard Professor and Former Chair, Department of Nutrition, New York University | |
| -- David Ludwig, M.D., Ph.D. | |
| Professor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School; Professor of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public | |
| Health; Director, New Balance Foundation Obesity Prevention Center, Children's Hospital Boston | |
| WHEN: | Wednesday, July 18, 2012, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| WHERE: | Russell Senate Office Building, Room 385 |
| Washington, D.C. | |
| WHY: | Debate in Congress over SNAP (Food Stamps) has included proposals for |
| dramatic funding cuts to the program, which 1 out of 7 Americans depend on | |
| for food. Protecting current funding levels for SNAP is essential given the | |
| nation's food insecurity crisis. There is also is an urgent need to strengthen | |
| SNAP to more effectively address the nation's obesity epidemic – and the | |
| alarming rise of obesity-related chronic diseases in children and adults. | |
| Grounded in scientific evidence, the comprehensive SNAP to Health report | |
| provides a roadmap for policy makers, public health professionals, researchers, | |
| educators, advocates and industry to work together to modernize and strengthen | |
| this important program for low-income Americans to help address two of the | |
| nation's most pressing public health challenges – food insecurity and obesity. | |
| CONTACT: | Berry Brady, 703.609.6643, berry@slfstrategies.com |
The Center for the Study of the Presidency & Congress logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=13655