Advocacy Updates Week of May 13, 2013
Issues affecting hungry families across the state and the nation
STATE LEVEL:
Legislators have another 30 days to come to an agreement on the budget and hopefully invest funding in our state’s nutrition programs. [LEARN MORE] [TAKE ACTION]
PRESERVING OUR SAFETY NET:
Find out more about how this budget proposal is choosing to spend state money in additional tax breaks at the expense of safety net services for low-income families. [LEARN MORE]
FEDERAL LEVEL:
Today, Congress begins debate on a new five-year Farm Bill. Both the Senate and the House proposals that will be discussed in committee this week make deep cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamps.) [LEARN MORE] [TAKE ACTION]
2013 Legislative Session Tracking
Below are a few of the legislative issues Northwest Harvest will be tracking and advocating for at the start of the January 2013 Session of the Washington State Legislature:
Restore funding for the State Food Assistance Program (SFA)
The State Food Assistance Program (SFA) is the food stamp look-alike program that provides important nutrition assistance to legal, documented immigrants who do not otherwise qualify for the federal program. [LEARN MORE]
Increase funding for Emergency Food Assistance Program (EFAP)
Food banks statewide have seen a 35% increase in need for services since the start of the recession in 2008. [LEARN MORE]
Restore the Farm to School Program at WSDA
The Farm to Market/School Program provides valuable assistance to Washington’s farmers, helping them understand rules and regulations that enable them to sell their product to schools, day care centers, and other institutions that help Washington’s most vulnerable populations. [LEARN MORE]
Find revenue to protect and preserve programs that provide basic services to low-income families
The state of Washington has made over $10 billion in cuts to our state budget over the last four years. [LEARN MORE]
For more information, including how to get involved with Northwest Harvest’s advocacy work, please contact Christina Wong, Public Policy Manager, at 206-923-7465 or christinaw@northwestharvest.org. You can also sign up to receive email alerts below.
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