|
There are many ways YOU can help reduce hunger and increase food security in western Massachusetts.
Help The Food Bank advocate in support of public policy on the federal and state level
Advocacy matters! Together we can eliminate hunger in our communities.
Did you know that each time a legislator hears from a constituent, they count it as representing much more than that one person's opinion? The numbers below show just how much of a difference you can make by sending an email, writing a letter, or placing a call.
-
1 e-mail represents 100 people
- 1 letter represents 500 people
- 1 call represents 500 people
- 1 visit represents 1000 people
Federal Policies
Breaking News on the federal Farm Bill
The massive $286 billion federal Farm Bill is vital to farmers and millions of Americans who rely on food and nutrition programs to put food on their tables. Yet:
- Food stamp benefits average a mere $1 a person a meal
- The minimum monthly food stamp benefit has been stuck at $10 for three decades
- Food stamp household asset limits have been frozen for decades
- Food banks, including The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, have experienced declining food from the federal USDA "TEFAP" program
In a late meeting on May 1st, US Senators and Representatives - known as "Conferees" - of their respective Agriculture Committees and other committees approved $10.365 billion in new ten-year fnding for the nutrition title of the Farm Bill (HR 2419). This is an important step in the process of seeking final passage. This new ten-year spending level for the nutrition title is critical to fund improvements in food stamp benefits, food stamp access, and increased TEFAP commodity purchases for food banks.
Important nutrition investments:
Food Stamp Benefits - The $10.365 billion
in new ten-year funding for the nutrition title provides $7.845 billion for Food
Stamp Program improvements, including funds for the first increase in the
minimum benefit in 30 years to $14 and then index it to inflation (i.e. the minimum benefit would
increase at the same rate as inflation).
Additional changes were made to rules that have the net effect of increasing the
overall benefit that struggling families can receive to purchase
food.
The nutrition title also
provides:
- $1.256 billion to increase and index
commodity purchases for TEFAP -- the program that
provides food to food banks.
- $1.020 billion for the fruit and vegetable
snack program
- $50 million for Community Food Projects
- $50 million for Senior Farmers Markets and additional investments in technology that would
make it easier for Food Stamp recipients to purchase fresh produce from farmers'
markets
- $60 million for the McGovern Dole Food for Education International Program, and
- $4 million for a six-state pilot for whole
grain cereal foods for school breakfast and lunch
All of these
programs are essential to prevent hunger and strengthen community food security
in western Massachusetts. Please call your U.S. Senators and Congress person to
thank them for their support of these new investments. The entire Massachusetts
Congressional delegation supported them and they all
deserve our thanks!
Contact Senator Kennedy
(202-224-4543),
Senator Kerry (202-224-2742), Congressman Neal (202-225-5601), or Congressman Olver (202-225-5335).
Some information
taken from FRAC (Food Research and Action Center).
Act Now: Write a letter to the editor in support of the Farm Bill
Massachusetts State Policies
Breaking News on the Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program Funding, FY 2008
Food prices
rose 5 percent in 2007 and continue to rise this year. More pressure is being placed on The Food
Bank of Western Massachusetts, and the three
other food banks in the Commonwealth, to provide emergency food
assistance.
We need your help. The Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program (MEFAP) core food
budget was reduced by $1 million in this fiscal year 2008. This has seriously impacted our ability to
meet increased demand coupled with rising food prices.
We're advocating for the following action:
- Restore $1 million to the FY '08 Core Food MEFAP budget (DFA 2511-0105)
- Increase FY '09 funding by 5% over FY '07 (commensurate with rate of food inflation)
Core Food (DFA 251-0105) $12.6 million
Operating Support (COE 7051-0015) $1.4 million
This investment will protect our most vulnerable residents from hunger and stimulate economic activity since the MEFAP food is purchased and grown in the Commonwealth.
Creating a Statewide Food
Policy Council (H3853)
There is a proposal underway (H3853)
by Representative Kulik to form a Massachusetts
Food Policy Council that creates a comprehensive food policy. The policy's
purpose would be to enhance the state’s agricultural economy and improve the
nutritional health of our citizens by promoting and expanding the availability
of fresh, healthy, and locally produced foods. The strength of this bill is that
it addresses the entire food system from farmer to consumer whether that be in a
grocery store, farmer's market, or a school cafeteria. The council
is to review existing state and local programs and policies and make
recommendations to strengthen our farms, reduce hunger, increase food security,
improve nutrition among seniors, low income populations, and school children,
and improve coordination among state and local agencies and their programs.
Ask your Representative and Senator
to support H3853, a bill sponsored by Representative
Kulik.
Act Now: Write a letter to the editor in support of a statewide Food Policy Council
An
Act to Promote Proper School
Nutrition (HB 4376)
Soda and junk food are feeding an epidemic of obesity and diabetes among our children. We need better food choices for children in school. The time to prevent obesity is in childhood and schools are an excellent place to start. Children learn the habits of a lifetime at school, and one of those habits should be healthy eating. Schools should provide nutritious food options to help children learn good eating habits and reduce the risk of health problems.
HB 4376 will promote school nutrition by: replacing sodas with healthier drinks, such as water, low- and non-fat milk, and juice; setting healthy standards for fat and sugar in snacks; and making fresh fruits and vegetables available in cafeterias. Help protect our children's health! Please contact your MA state representative and senator in support of HB 4376.
Click here to read the HB 4376 fact sheet
Act Now: Write a letter to the editor in support of school nutrition
How to find your state and federal representatives
You CAN make a difference by urging government officials to support the policies described above that will help reduce hunger and increase food security in our communities.
Visit congress.org to find out who are your federal, state, and local representatives and how to contact them.
For Massachusetts state officials, visit www.WhereDoIVoteMA.com. Call your legislators at the State House at 617-722-2000.
Other online tools for finding your government representatives include:
Massachusetts State Legislature
On-line locator tool for U.S. Congress
U.S. House of Representatives
U.S. Senate
|
