Veneman and Derbez Sign Partnership to Promote Nutrition Programs

Release No. 0298.04

USDA Contact: Ed Loyd (202) 720-4623
Embassy of Mexico Contact: Alfonso Nieto (202) 728-1650

VENEMAN AND DERBEZ SIGN PARTNERSHIP TO PROMOTE NUTRITION PROGRAMS

WASHINGTON, July 22, 2004—Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman and Secretary of Foreign Affairs for Mexico Ernesto Luis Derbez Bautista, today signed a partnership agreement to help educate eligible Mexican nationals living in the United States about available nutrition assistance.

“President Bush successfully led the effort to restore food stamps to qualified legal immigrants,” said Veneman. “This collaboration with the government of Mexico reflects our on-going efforts to ensure that those who are eligible for nutrition assistance are aware of these important programs and services.”

“The Government of Mexico reaffirms its commitment to improve the living conditions of Mexicans in the United States,” said Secretary Derbez. “This agreement represents a great opportunity for us to disseminate, through our network of 45 consulates in this country, information directed at Mexicans who qualify and may participate in nutrition assistance programs, and that due to the language barrier or a lack of knowledge, have not participated.”

The agreement signed today is a component of a USDA initiative to provide outreach to a wide-range of immigrant communities, seniors and the working poor. Under the provisions of the partnership, the Mexican Embassy and Mexican consulates in the United States will disseminate information about the 15 domestic nutrition assistance programs administered by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service, including the Food Stamp Program, the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs and the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program.

As provided by the 2002 Farm Bill, eligibility for the food stamp program has been restored to adult legal immigrants who have lived in the country for five years and to those receiving other disability benefits regardless of their entry date. Legal immigrant children have also had their eligibility restored, an important step in helping the school readiness of children by improving nutritional intake and reducing hunger.

The Embassy of Mexico and the many consulate offices in the United States assist Mexican nationals with services relating to citizenship and function within Mexican American communities to strengthen their identity, enhance education and nurture cultural expressions. Mexican consulates are located in major metropolitan areas and regions with large Mexican American communities. The consular network provides a venue to widely disseminate information about nutrition assistance.

For more information on the partnership with the government of Mexico and FNS nutrition assistance programs, please visit http://www.fns.usda.gov/ . Information about the 2002 Farm Bill can be found at http://www.usda.gov/farmbill .