Anti-Hunger Advocacy Initiatives

 

Protecting Important Programs

The Interfaith Hunger Coalition has two important missions: education/programs and legislative advocacy. Most of our earlier e-mails have provided details on our Zoom programs and a Hunger 101 Workshop held during the summer. This e-mail offers updates on important state and federal legislative proposals.

Setting Priorities in New Mexico
The New Mexico Food and Agriculture Policy Council, an endorsing organizational partner of the Interfaith Hunger Coalition, submitted this letter to the Economic and Rural Development Interim Committees of the New Mexico State Legislature requesting support for and expansion of the New Mexico Grown Fruits and Vegetables for School, Senior and Early Childhood Meal Programs; Double Up Food Bucks (SNAP) Expansion; Healthy Food Financing Initiative; and, Soil Health and Conservation Programs. The letter was signed by representatives of NMFAPC affiliates Farm to Table, La Semilla, Agricultura Network, Center for Health Innovation, New Mexico Farmers Marketing Association, and Soil Health Working Group.

The NMFAPC (along with the IHC) is among the participants in the statewide Food, Hunger, Water, Agriculture Work Group, which is crafting a broad legislative initiative (similar to the federal Farm Bill) that would address different but converging anti-hunger hunger actions. This is a process that has evolved from frequent Zoom meetings during the summer. The goal is to have a piece for the upcoming 2021 Legislative Session. Stay Tuned.

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

New Legislators

According to the New Mexico Secretary of State's election results site, nine new senators and nine new representatives were elected to the New Mexico State Legislature on Nov. 3.Tara Lujan had been appointed to fill out the term of Rep. Linda Trujillo, so technically she was already a part of the Legislature. Also, Marian Matthews won election to her seat for the first time. She was appointed to finish the term of the late Bill Pratt. We won't include her in the list because she has already served in both the regular and special 2020 sessions.The race between incumbent Willie Madrid and challenger Ricky Little was extremely close and could be subject to a recount.

In the Senate, Greg Schmedes won election to his seat after serving in the House. Here is the list of the newly elected legislators, with the name of their predecessor in parenthesis.

Senate: Brenda McKenna (John Sapien), Martin Hickey (William Payne), Joshua Sanchez (Clemente Sanchez), Siah Correa Hemphill (Gabriel Ramos), Katy Duhigg (Candace Gould), Harold Pope (Sander Rue), Carrie Hamblen (Mary Kay Pappen), Crystal Diamond (John Arthur Smith), Greg Schmedes (James White).

 

House: Meredith Dixon (Abbas Akhil), T. Ryan Lane (Paul Bandy), Brittney Barreras (Art de la Cruz), Stefani Lord (Greg Schmedes), Luis Terrazas (Rodolpho Martinez), Roger Montoya (Joseph Sanchez), Kristina Ortez (Daniel Barrone), Ambrose Castellano (Tomas Salazar), Tara Lujan (Linda Trujillo).

Several legislators who in one way or another supported the informal Legislative Hunger Caucus or promoted important anti-hunger legislation won reelection: Reps. Melanie Stansbury, Joanne Ferrary, Rebecca Dow, Phelps Anderson, Gail Armstrong, Anthony Allison, Karen Bash, Natalie Figueroa and Sens.Bill Tallman, Liz Stefanics, Michael Padilla and Nancy Rodriguez. Rep. Willie Madrid, who was co-sponsor of an important school lunch initiative. apparently won reelection by a very tight margin, but the results are likely going to a recount.

Protecting Federal Programs
The Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) last week released its Summary of Transition Priorities, proposing the first steps needed to build the public and political will to end hunger in America. They include urgent actions and long-term investments. The actions seek to strengthen and expand SNAP, child and school nutrition, and senior programs. In the long term, FRAC proposals focus on jobs, wages, social security supplemental income, housing and health care.

AFSC to Host Farm to Food Stamps Workshop
The American Friends Service Committee-New Mexico invites the public to learn how local entrepreneurs you can feed their community and expand their business by accepting SNAP. The workshop, scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 19, 5:00 p.m. is taught by South Valley farmer Casey Holland, who will take you step by step through the process. AFSC staff will support your farm with follow up so that you can provide your food to more of our community through the SNAP/food stamp program. Register in Advance.  See the Facebook Event
 
Join the Interfaith Hunger Coalition!
We invite congregations and organizations to endorse the Interfaith Hunger Coalition. The endorsement does not imply any financial contributions, just a commitment to partner with us to address hunger in New Mexico. Here is a list of our current endorsers (25 congregations and 30 organizations). Download the endorsement form and attach in an e-mail to nminterfaithhungercoalition@gmail.com