Op-Ed: Legislators Promote Need to Address Food, Water Insecurity

There is nothing more basic to life than food and water. And, yet, here in New Mexico we have among the highest rates of hunger in the country and communities that are without access to water. It is hard to imagine in the 21st century that food and water insecurity continue to have such a profound impact on our state. That is why we must take decisive action during the upcoming Legislative session to address the food and water needs of our communities. 

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Reps. Melanie Stansbury, Anthony Allison and Joanne Ferrary make the case for a comprehensive and long-term approach to address hunger in New Mexico in this opinion piece published in The Albuquerque Journal on Sunday, October 18. The publication of the piece is appropriate, coming just two days after the global commemoration of World Food Day.

Rep. Stansbury and Ferrary have worked with a broad coalition to promote an omnibus bill that would look at all aspects of hunger in our state. Rep. Allison was one of the co-sponsors of a Legislative Memorial that supported the creation of Legislative Hunger Caucus. 

The effort to bring diverse voices to the solution to address hunger in New Mexico has been both challenging and rewarding. The task was complicated further by the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, which greatly increased the demand for food and created massive unemployment in our state. "Throughout this time, New Mexicans have risen to the occasion. Neighbors have helped neighbors, grassroots and mutual aid organizations have stepped in, and major investments have been made by nonprofit and philanthropic donors to help weather the storm," the three legislators said in the opinion piece. "The state’s five food banks and hundreds of sister agencies have mobilized on a massive scale, and farmers and ranchers have donated untold amounts of food."

Rep. Melanie Stansbury

And yet, despite the need to greatly promote legislative initiatives to address immediate needs, the coalition comprised of hundreds of organizations and coalitions has not lost sight of the long-term goal, which seeks not only to ensure adequate access to nutritious food for all the residents of our state. This means looking at all aspects of hunger, including root causes like poverty. One goal is to ensure that federal and state anti-poverty and nutrition-support programs like school meals  and SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) reach all eligible residents. There is also need to support agricultural producers, especially small-scale farmers. And in the process of supporting farmers, we need to look at related factors like water, healthy soil and infrastructure.

House Chamber 2019 Session

"To address the food, hunger and water issues that are impacting our communities we must take decisive action. That is why our workgroup is drafting a Food and Farm Bill for the upcoming legislative session, as it is essential to supporting the economic recovery of our farmers and addressing the basic food and water needs of our families," said the opinion piece. 

The participation of legislators in the effort is broad. Even though three legislators authored the opinion piece, the coalition enjoys strong participation and input from members of both political parties and from all regions of the state. 

The partnership between civil society and the State Legislature (and the executive branch) is an important step towards beginning the process of ending hunger in New Mexico. "For nothing is more fundamental to life, to culture, to our economy, and to the well-being of our people than access to food and water. Please help us shape and support this critical legislation and support your local food banks and farmers," the opinion piece concluded.