Lawmakers in Olympia are continuing to work through the special session to reconcile the final state budget- their work is not done and neither is ours! Continue to contact your lawmakers on behalf of hunger relief programs, and urge people in your networks to do the same. If you need help finding your state reps, click here.
Action Alerts:
Federal action –
SIGN ON TO PROTECT SNAP: As you know, we’ve been keeping a close eye on Congressional changes made by the House budget to SNAP(food stamp program) that would convert SNAP into a block grant and cut funding by $127 billion over ten years.
At the WRAHC meeting in Oakland this week, FRAC staff asked advocates to circulate this letter widely to get as many sign-ons as possible by May 9. This letter will be the main initial advocacy vehicle to protect SNAP in the upcoming debt-limit and budget debates on Capitol Hill. More than 50 Vermont organizations have signed on, so Washington needs to catch up! Please ask your own agency and your partners to sign on now.
It’s incredibly important that Congressional leaders hear our message to protect SNAP from budget cuts and policies that weaken the program’s ability to help the hungriest and neediest people.
Please sign on your organization to the letter to Congress that national, state and local groups are circulating to protest the House budget. DEADLINE for signatures: Monday, May 9
Your organization can sign the letter by clicking the link here.
State actions –
School Meals: Contact your state lawmakers and ask them to fund School Meals at House budget levels in the final budget. This will help our schools provide students with nutritious meals during the school year and over the summer.
WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program: Let your lawmakers know that you support the Senate budget for WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program, which transfers $100,000 from the first year of the budget to the second and allows the program to continue by drawing down critical federal funds. (The House budget did not include the fund transfer in the second year, eliminating the program altogether.)
Program Updates:
State Food Assistance Program
The Senate budget includes a $16 million cut in the second year, reducing benefits to 50% for recipients. A lawsuit has been filed and until it is resolved the state is prevented from reducing SFA. There is proviso language attached that would allow the benefit to be cut to 50% if the lawsuit’s eventual ruling allows that.
The Governor’s budget eliminated benefits for SFA (reduction of $60m.) The House budget calls for a $30m cut, which would result in SFA benefit levels at half the federal level, but no changes to eligibility guidelines.
WSDA Emergency Food Assistance Programs
The WSDA food assistance programs (including EFAP and TEFAP) are funded at $10.6 million in both the Senate and House budgets.
For more information on hunger relief programs in Washington click here.
Member Events:
Children’s Alliance Voices for Children Awards Luncheon- Don't miss the Children's Alliance 2011 Voices for Children Awards Luncheon. Celebrate CA’s successes for kids and fuel the challenges ahead. For more info, click here.
Washington Food Coalition Harvest Against Hunger Area Summit- The first Harvest Against Hunger Area Summit will be held on September 14th in Wenatchee, WA at the Wenatchee Convention Center. The event will take place from 2pm-6pm. As part of a grant from the WSDA Food Assistance Programs, WFC’s role is to coordinate 4 Area Summits across Washington to bring the emergency food community together with local specialty crop farmers and their commissions to help these groups learn how their businesses intersect and potential options for growth. For more info, click here.
Do you have an upcoming event? If you have upcoming hunger relief events around Washington, send us the details and your event will be added to the online event calendar. Email Sakara at ahnc@wsahnc.org
Reminders:
MARK YOUR CALENDARS! The next AHNC Membership Meeting is June 14th at 2:30pm, location TBD.
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