Anti Hunger & Nutrition Coalition Alert!

Alert - Farm Bill action & new hunger data Hunger in WA: USDA released its annual report on food insecurity in the U.S. last week and Washington residents continue to struggle with hunger and food insecurity more than most states. It's clear that economic recovery hasn't reached Washington families struggling with hunger: WA ranks 15th among states for hunger, or "very low food security".  And, WA now ranks 22nd among states for food insecurity (last year's rank: 14).    Nationally, 5.7% of households experience hunger - here, the rate is much higher at 6.1%. Nationally, 14.5% of households experience food insecurity; the WA rate is just slightly higher at 14.6% and this is an improvement from last year, when food insecurity in WA affected 15.4% of all households. This indicates that families on the margin may be experiencing some improvements in their family budgets, but very vulnerable families did not see a decrease in hunger. For more details and analysis of the data by our partners at the Children's Alliance - and how food stamps, summer meal programs and school breakfast play a role in Washington's anti-hunger safety net - click here. For the full data report, click here.   Congress reconvenes today - Farm Bill is on House agenda: Congress has until Sept. 30 to pass a Farm Bill yet negotiations over the summer broke down, and a final vote in the House passed an Ag-only bill. We learned on Friday that Republican House leadership has named their new Nutrition-only bill proposal the Nutrition Reform and Opportunity Act. The bill has not yet been released but expect it to includes cuts of up to $40 billion from SNAP, create more barriers to eligibility and enrollment, and strip out key efficiencies. We appreciate the strongly positive support for SNAP we saw over the August recess fromRep. Adam Smith, at the Cherry Street Food Bank; from Rep. Rick Larsen at the Marysville Food Bank, and from Rep. Denny Heck's staff in Lacey. Let them know you appreciate their support! TAKE ACTION: Call or fax your House member TODAY and urge them to protect SNAP in the House Farm Bill - vote NO on a bill that cuts SNAP! Let members know that WA is the 15th hungriest state in the nation: cuts to SNAP hurt our kids, our neighbors, our elders and our communities. Write & fax your personal message on our updated Empty Refrigerator campaign here.  Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-1) Phone: (202) 225-6311 Fax: (202) 226-1606 Rep. Rick Larsen (D-2) Phone: (202) 225-2605 Fax: (202) 225-4420 Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-3) Phone: (202) 225-3536 Fax: (202) 225-3478 Rep. Doc Hastings (R-4) Phone: (202) 225-5816 Fax: (202) 225-3251 Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-5) Phone: (202) 225-2006 Fax: (202) 225-3392 Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-6) Phone: (202) 225-5916 Fax: (202) 225-3575 Rep. Jim McDermott (D-7) Phone: (202) 225-3106 Fax: (202) 225-6197 Rep. Dave Reichert (R-8) Phone: (202) 225-7761 Fax: (202) 225-4282 Rep. Adam Smith (D-9) Phone: (202) 225-8901 Fax: (202) 225-5893 Rep. Denny Heck (D-10) Phone: (202) 225-9740 Fax: (202) 225-0129 Thank you for acting TODAY.  With another year of data showing how much Washingtonians continue to struggle to feed their families, we are very concerned the House could damage SNAP irreparably - thanks for speaking up for hungry families.