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DRAFT 4 <br />Although the state was proactive in resubmitting the grant after the first denial, the <br />criteria was so extreme and limited that it was impossible to design a program that would <br />meet the criteria. The criteria included limitations for serving only food stamp recipients, <br />which would exclude many limited resource families that need this vital service. This is <br />hard to understand, since the FY 04 Guidance for Food Stamp Nutrition Education <br />document shows that allowable nutrition education programs include "Breastfeeding <br />education, promotion and support which is coordinated with WIC and which supplements <br />and complements WIC services, rather than supplanting them" The program in North <br />Carolina met these criteria, yet it was not funded. We would appreciate your influence in <br />determining if the review for funds was administered fairly in the Southeastern region. <br />Orange County has also delivered nutrition education to limited resource families for 30 <br />years through the federally funded Expanded Foods and Nutrition Education Program. <br />This program has been very successful in addressing many of the problems that are now <br />in the forefront of issues, such as nutrition, overweight and health concerns. The <br />program teaches families to utilize resources that they have to the fullest extent, and <br />personal success stories of program participants indicate that many have been able to <br />leave public assistance programs. In the current fiscal year, the EFNEP program suffered <br />a 10% cut in funds. In the fiscal 2005 President's budget, the 10% was reinstated, and <br />your support is needed to insure that the money is included in the budget, and that <br />incremental increases be approved in subsequent years. These funds are part of USDA's <br />appropriations under the Smith Lever Programs, and are one of the 3D line items. <br />3. Federal Tobacco Quota Buyout <br />It is Orange County's understanding that if the Quota Buyout is approved, it is proposed <br />that a privately funded buyout in the amount of $100 million would be formed in each of <br />the fiscal years 2005 through 2009. These funds would be used to provide compensation <br />for many tobacco-dependent communities to reduce their dependency on tobacco and <br />thus lower the chances of having to appropriate scarce federal taxpayer dollars in the <br />future to support deteriorating rural tobacco economies. <br />Orange County has routinely been excluded from the possible benefits of funds similar to <br />the one proposed with the Quota Buyout (example: Golden Leaf Foundation) due the <br />County being categorized as an "urban county". Orange County does have some urban <br />areas, but a substantial portion of the County is rural. Orange County requests that, <br />should the Buyout be approved and the tobacco-dependent communities fund be <br />established, the eligibility criteria for funds should be formulated in such a way as to <br />assure that Orange County and other counties receive finding consideration based on the <br />merit of their circumstances rather than on a simple "urban" or "rural" characterization.