Policy Memo (4.20 MB)
| DATE: | January 24, 2012 | ||
| SUBJECT: | Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 Funding for The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) | ||
| TO: | Regional Directors Special Nutrition Programs NERO, MARO, MPRO, SERO, MWRO, SWRO | State Directors TEFAP State Agencies | Regional Director Office of Field Operations WRO |
Introduction
Two pieces of legislation currently govern the level of food and administrative resources available to TEFAP in FY 2012: the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (the Farm Bill); and PL 112-55 the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2012 (the Appropriations Act), which provides funding through Sept. 30, 2012.
Food Funds
The Farm Bill established the amount of funding available for TEFAP food purchases for FY 2009, and indexes that amount to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program's (SNAP) Thrifty Food Plan for TEFAP food purchases for FYs 2010 and 2012. Based on adjustments to SNAP's Thrifty Food Plan indicator, the amount available for TEFAP food purchases in FY 2012 is $260.25 million. Of this, $3,501,030 is needed to pay costs associated with ordering and transporting the food, leaving $256,748,970 for the purchase of food.
Conversion of Food Funds to Administrative Funds
The Appropriations Act gives TEFAP state agencies the opportunity to convert their fair-share of 10 percent of the TEFAP food funds provided in the Farm Bill into TEFAP administrative funds. FNS headquarters must be informed by Feb. 29, 2012, whether TEFAP state agencies want to accept their portion of the convertible $26.025 million as food funds, administrative funds or any combination of the two.
Administrative Funds and their Conversion
The Appropriations Act includes $48.0 million in TEFAP administrative funds, a decrease of $1.401 million over FY 2011. Through November 18, per the terms of the Continuing Resolutions, TEFAP received a pro-rated portion of the administrative funds it received in FY 2011 totaling $6,515,374. An additional 30-day apportionment of administrative funds was made through Dec. 18, 2011, totaling $3,936,000. That left $37,548,626 to be allocated for the balance of FY 2012. As always, TEFAP state agencies may convert any portion of their administrative funds into food funds. FNS headquarters must be informed by May 23, 2012, regarding what portion of their administrative funds TEFAP state agencies wish to convert to food funds, if any.
Worksheets
Previously in this fiscal year, FNS provided worksheets to TEFAP state agencies detailing administrative funding allocations under the Continuing Resolutions and the additional 30-day apportionment. Attached, please find two worksheets that provide further details regarding FY 2012 TEFAP funding.
- Worksheet #3 shows each state's share of the $6,515,374 in FY 2012 TEFAP administrative funds that have been provided under the Continuing Resolutions, as well as each state's share of the $3,936,000 provided under the 30-day apportionment. Finally, it shows the $37,548,626 allocated under the final FY 2012 appropriations bill, and the total of these amounts.
- Worksheet #4 shows each state's allocation of FY 2012 TEFAP food funds provided in the Farm Bill that are not convertible to administrative funds, share of food funds that are convertible, and the total of these amounts.
Conclusion
To review, FNS headquarters must be informed whether TEFAP state agencies want to (a) accept their portion of the $26.025 million in convertible TEFAP food funds as food funds, administrative funds, or some combination of the two by Feb. 29, 2012; and (b) convert any portion of their administrative funds into food funds by May 23, 2012.
Laura Castro
Director
Food Distribution Division