Mr. LYNG. No, we have made no study of that, Senator, although our economists continually show that the impact of consumption of food in a program like this is almost insignificant in terms of the total capacity we have in this country to produce food. So, we would agree with you, that it is a paradox that we cannot tolerate, that of having the ability to produce more food than we can market at reasonable prices and still have people with insufficient or inadequate diets. There is no reason for that to exist in this country. Senator BELLMON. Then, from what you said, I take it the Department's economists have studied the effect of the overall School Lunch Program and other feeding programs on the farm surplus situation in the country? Mr. LYNG. There have been studies, yes, Senator. EXPANSION STUDY FOR BREAKFAST PROGRAM Senator BELLMON. Could you furnish the committee with a copy of one such study showing what the effect has been, and perhaps interpolate what the effect would be, if we were to expand the breakfast program to include all the children in the country as we have done in the School Lunch Program? Mr. LYNG. Yes, we will do that, Senator.* Senator BELLMON. Now, one other question and I will be finished. I know there has been some mixed feelings in the Department, and certainly among farmers, as to whether or not the USDA should be involved in the feeding programs at all. Do you have any feeling about it? Is this somehow a conflict with USDA's principal mission, or do you feel that you belong in the feeding business? Mr. LYNG. There are times, Senator, when I would be delighted if it were the mission of some other department. The President's reorganization plan called for and calls for the movement of the feeding programs, the Food and Nutrition Service, from the Department of Agriculture to the new Department of Human Resources. In testimony before this committee 3 years ago, when then Secretary Hardin and then Secretary Finch of Health, Education and Welfare were testifying, they both agreed that it would be desirable to have the Food Stamp Program moved from the Department of Agriculture to the Department of Health, Education and Welfare. As you know, this proposal by the President has been before the Congress since January of 1971 and, so far, there has been no action. As long as the food programs are within the Department of Agriculture, we will make every effort to do as good a job of administering them as we possibly can. Senator BELLMON. But so far as the breakfast program is concerned, do you feel that the Congress, at this time, has not given the Department a clear signal? And, that if we do want the program expanded to include substantially larger numbers of children that we should say so? Is this right? Mr. LYNG. The basic legislation would not lead one to believe that that was the intent of the Congress at that time. * See Appendix 1, pp. 67-75. Senator BELLMON. That is all, Mr. Chairman. Senator HART. Thank you, Senator, and thank you, Secretary Lyng and Mr. Davis. We are concluding this hearing-not the first and, I am sure, not the last—in this long-continuing search for means to achieve a goal that I insist is achievable, and which the Secretary has agreed to continue. It is an indictment of us as a people, having the means, having the resources, and not reaching the people who are hungry. Perhaps there will always be the debate, "We do not have enough money appropriated for it; or, we have all that is needed to meet the demands from the field.” The clear obligation of this committee is to develop changes in the structure of these programs that will eliminate the kinks and accelerate the delivery of food. By that I mean both the lunch as well as the breakfast program. We have received good recommendations for changes in the structure, and I hope that we can very quickly develop legislative proposals to incoporate those changes. RESPONSIBILITY OF USDA TO CONGRESS However the structure may be improved in whatever its defects, the Department has the responsibility of making clear to the appropriating committees what the money need is of getting a figure and nailing it down-based on good, solid analysis from the field. Given the time of the year, the problem is an immediate one. I hope that our committees on appropriations will be presented with a solid figure to include the 3,000 schools that you now find are desirous of this program. One of the reasons you probably find so many school districts that continue to be not jumping up and down screaming for feeding programs is this uncertainty with respect to the appropriations system. Supplemental appropriation is better than none at all. However, it is liable to come after school is open for that year and "how are you going to get untracked and redirect it?" We are all familiar with the problems and we appreciate very much the Secretary's willingness to again come up and help us. Thank you. The committee is in recess, subject to the call of the Chair. (Whereupon, at 2:07 p.m., the Select Committee was recessed, to reconvene at the call of the Chair.) |