Dr. Deborah Frank, MD, the Principal Investigator in Boston, testified before the US House of Representatives Committee on the Budget on February 15th. Dr. Frank shared her expert knowledge about the current situation of hunger in America. She also shared stories from the clinic which brought a more human element to the debate.
Dr. Frank explained that a lack of government funding in programs such as WIC and Food Stamps increases malnourishment in children and ultimately leads to poor development and an increased burden on society. She cited studies that have indicated that babies and toddlers in food insecure households were 30% more likely to have had past hospitalizations, and 90% more likely to have fair or poor health, compared to food secure babies and toddlers. She ended her testimony by stating that increasing food stamp coverage is both humane and financially preferable, citing that a 2-3 day hospitalization costs about $11,000, which would fund four years worth of food stamp benefits for a family of four.
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