Date: 1988-10-04
Speaker: CE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. what doos Washington Rodskins star quarterback Doug Williams have in common with 21 million other Americans? While growing up in Zachary. LA. Dougs family participated in the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program [EFNEP]. a highly successful. grassrootsbased nutrition program operated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture [USDA]. Yesterday the Williams family was among past and present EFNEP participants taking part in the programs 20th anniversary recognition program here in Washington. Mr. Speaker. one of the most important ways to ensure good health is a proper diet. For 20 years EFNEP has helped improve the dietary knowledge of lowincome families living in the most povertystricken counties in the United States. Who are the people helped by this program? EFNEP. which Is administered by USDAs Extension Service. helps lowincome families. particularly those with young children. Sixtytwo percent of the programs participants are minorities. Ninety percent have an annual income undar $7.900. Sixtyfour percent are in the Food Stamp Program. County Extension home economists train and supervise paraprofessionals. who are mostly from lowincome families themselves. These paraprofessionals then recruit lowincome homemakers interested in learning more about nutrition. They enroll interested participants through references from other agencies. doortodoor canvassing. and neighborhood contacts. Today at 813 program sites across the Nation. like the one in Hidalgo County in south Texas. lowincome homemakers with young children and 4H youth learn the importance of good nutrition. Nationally. there are 4.375 paid paraprofessionals and 41.423 volunteers who are helping a million adult and youth participants each year learn food and nutrition basics. Families enrolled in EFNEP learn to plan nutritionally balanced meals. They learn how to effectively use food stamps to buy foods that meet nutritional needs within the available budget. They learn about proper food storage. safety. and sanitation practices. The program works. Former EFNEP participants have significantly improved food recall scores. nutrition knowledge. and food practice scores compared to their scores recorded upon entering the program. But this programs success is more than just higher recall scores. The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program is a program that instills confidence and selfesteem in families. Its unique In that it trains paraprofessionals and concerned volunteers in the local area to teach nutrition basics to others who live in their community. Every time I have an opportunity to visit the program in my home county of Hidalgo. TX. I come away inspired. It is run by a wonderful lady. Adelita Muftoz. under the guidance of Ida Patrick. the countys extension home economist. Every Member of Congress should see and hear the stories from those who participate in the program. what it has done for their families. how it has helped their children. how it has brought them confidence and self esteem. and how it has even helped their marriages. Their testimonials never end. The volunteers from among the poor themselves are the greatest. I have seen the programs positive result for so many. and its gratifying. I am proud. very proud. not only of the program in my own area. but of all the others throughout the country. The last time I visited the Hidalgo County EFNEP site it was graduation time. I gave each woman her certificate and several of them gave short statements on how It had changed their lives in a positive way. Then we enjoyed a pot luck lunch made from recipes that they had prepared. ranging from lentil soup to nopalitosa regional dish made from tender cactus leaves. Each woman explained what she had prepared and its nutritional value. Al the recipes were made from donated USDA commodities. It was great and they were so proud and appreciative. The whole experience made me proud and appreciative that we have this program and that I have had the opportunity to take part in it. Mr. Speaker. I urge my colleagues to join me in saluting the extension service personnel and the paid and volunteer participants who have made the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program such a success over these past 20 years.