[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 159 (Thursday, November 11, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2350]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             FOOD STAMP VITAMIN AND MINERAL IMPROVEMENT ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DAN BURTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 10, 1999

  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, today I am pleased to introduce 
the Food Stamp Vitamin and Mineral Improvement Act of 1999.
  This is a commonsense piece of legislation. It would give those 
Americans using food stamps the ability to purchase vitamin and mineral 
supplements for themselves and their families.
  A similar bill was introduced with bipartisan support in the Senate 
and already has the support of the following organizations: the 
Alliance for Aging Research, the Spina Bifida Association of America, 
the National Osteoporosis Foundation, and the National Nutritional 
Foods Association.
  Nutrition experts such as Dr. Paul Lachance, Chair of the Department 
of Food Science at Rutgers University, Dr. Jeffrey Blumberg of Tufts 
University, Dr. Charles Butterworth, Director of Human Nutrition at the 
University of Alabama Birmingham, and Dr. Dennis Heldman, Chair of the 
Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition at the University of 
Missouri have also called for making this commonsense change to food 
policy.
  This legislation would contribute substantially to improving the 
nutrition and health of a segment of our society that too often falls 
below recommended levels of nutrient consumption. Scientific evidence 
continues to mount showing that sound nutrition is essential for normal 
growth and cognitive development in children, and for improved health 
and the prevention of a variety of conditions and illnesses. Studies 
have also shown, unfortunately, that many Americans do not have dietary 
intakes sufficient to meet even the very conservative Recommended Daily 
Allowances, or RDA's, for a number of essential nutrients. Insufficient 
dietary intakes are particularly critical for children, pregnant women 
and the elderly.
  A recent study conducted by the Tufts University School of Nutrition, 
and based on government data, showed that millions of children living 
in poverty in the United States have dietary intakes that are well 
below the government's Recommended Daily Allowance for a number of 
important nutrients. The study found that major differences exist in 
the intakes of poor versus non-poor children for 10 out of 16 nutrients 
(food energy, folate, iron, magnesium, thiamin, vitamin A, vitamin B6, 
vitamin C, vitamin E, and zinc). Moreover, the proportion of poor 
children with inadequate intakes of zinc is over 50 percent; for iron, 
over 40 percent; and for vitamin E, over 33 percent.
  For some nutrients, such as vitamin A and magnesium, the proportion 
of poor children with inadequate intakes is nearly six times as large 
as for non-poor children.
  Pregnant women also have high nutritional needs. Concerns about 
inadequate folate intake by pregnant women prompted the Public Health 
Service to issue a recommendation regarding consumption of folic acid 
by all women of childbearing age who are capable of becoming pregnant 
for the purpose of reducing the incidence of spina bifida or other 
neural tube defects. That is why this change has long been a priority 
of the Spina Bifida Association of America.
  Furthermore, the percent of pregnant and nursing women who get the 
RDA level of calcium has dropped from just 24 percent in 1986 to a mere 
16 percent in 1994. That's 84 percent of women who aren't getting 
enough calcium--which we know is critical to preventing the 
debilitating effects of osteoporosis.
  And again, the evidence is that lower income women, many of whom are 
eligible for Food Stamps are more likely to have inadequate intake of 
key nutrients. Women with income of 130 percent or less of the poverty 
level have higher rates of deficiencies in intake of Vitamins A, E, C, 
B-6 and B-12, as well as Iron, Thiamin, Riboflavin and Niacin than 
those with higher incomes.
  Obviously, the best way to obtain sufficient nutrient intake is 
through eating a variety of nutritious foods, but some groups--
particularly those at the greatest risk, including children, pregnant 
women and the elderly who do not absorb nutrients as well--may find it 
significantly difficult to obtain sufficient nutrient intake through 
foods alone. Accordingly, many people in our nation do rely on 
nutritional supplements to ensure that they and their families are 
consuming sufficient levels of key nutrients.
  I urge my colleagues to co-sponsor the Food Stamp Vitamin and Mineral 
Improvement Act of 1999. This bill, when passed, will help families, 
particularly children and the elderly, have a better chance at better 
health through adequate nutritional support.

                          ____________________