In a state that grows more than 50 kinds of fruits and vegetables it may be a surprise that finding healthy food isn’t easy for everyone. Wednesday at the Capitol officials talked about cash assistance programs to help needy families and the negative health impacts food deserts can have.
In order to receive temporary cash assistance, Floridians must fall below 185 percent of the federal poverty line. That means for a family of four to qualify, the household weekly income must stay below $860. But Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Shalimar) says the way Florida calculates that income isn’t fair to all the state’s families.
“We currently do not count the income of illegal aliens toward that. So we have families in our state that if they were all not illegal aliens then they would not be receiving the assistance, but if one of those family members is an illegal alien then they would be receiving the assistance,” Gaetz says.
Gaetz wants to change that. He has a bill that would require officials to include the earning of any undocumented immigrants living in a household when determining whether the family should qualify for temporary cash assistance. Gaetz points out there’s a limited pot of money to go around.
“Currently the tax payers of the state of Florida are subsidizing people who are only receiving cash assistance because there is an illegal alien in the family. To the tune of $239,518. Now that won’t be the biggest flash in the state budget admittedly, but that’s money that could also hire school nurses or provide for vulnerable Floridians who need it,” Gaetz says.
Gaetz passed his measure through the House Children, Families and Seniors Committee Wednesday, but not without panel members pressing Gaetz on the impact the measure could have on low income people living in the state. Rep. Gwyn Clark-Reed (D-Deerfield Beach) has concerns.
“When we disallow folks to get food, we are jeopardizing their health. We are jeopardizing the health of everyone in this country," Clark-Reed says. "And to say that these folks should not be counted –where do you want them to get food?”
Gaetz argues the measure has little to do with food since he says it provides cash, which can be used for any purchases.
Meanwhile a few hours later and a few floors down in the Capitol Wednesday, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam echoed Clark-Reed--joining forces with the Moffitt Cancer Center to talk about the important role diet plays in staying healthy.
“Our parents our grandparents they all knew that eating your fruits and vegetables is going to allow you to be healthier and live a more full and active and longer life,” Putnam says.
Moffitt and the Florida Department of Agriculture are planning to research the health impact food deserts, or neighborhoods with no fresh foods nearby, are having on the state’s citizens. Putnam says it’s important work.
“I believe this partnership will allow us to quantify what we all intuitively know – that eating the types of fresh fruits and vegetables that grow in our state is going to allow your body to defeat, or be in a better position, to defeat cancer," Putnam says.
The study will focus on kids ages 9-to-14. And will look into the diets of those who live in areas with easy access to fresh fruits and vegetables compared with those who don’t.
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