Food, Hunger & Farm Act, HB 207
The House Agriculture and Water Resources Committee approvedHB 207, the Food, Hunger & Farm Act, on a Do Pass basis on Saturday, February 20. The measure passed by a vote of 6-3. The lead sponsors are Reps. Melanie Stansbury, Joanne Ferrary and Karen Bash and Sen. Liz Stefanics. Stay tuned for the next steps.
Some of our endorsing partners testified in support of the bill, including the New Mexico Food and Agriculture Policy Council, the New Mexico Conference of Churches, the Lutheran Advocacy-Ministry New Mexico, the Food Depot, among others. Watch webcast of committee hearing.
Background:This ambitious bill would create the Food, Hunger, and Farm Council that would work with multiple state departments, institutions, non-profits, and individuals to develop a statewide strategic plan to assess the effects of hunger, malnutrition, and food and water insecurity in New Mexico.
More details
Other Hunger-Related Legislative Developments
- HB 132 Emergency Funding ($5 million) for NM Food Banks. House Healtth and Human Services Committee approved on a Do Pass basis. Referred to House Appropriations and Finance Committee. Lead Sponsors: Reps. Joanne Ferrary, Melanie Stansbury, Karen Bash and Linda Serrato.
- HB 243 Request for $500,000 in appropriations for Double-up Food Bucks program. House Agriculture and Water Resources Committee approved on a Do Pass basis. Moved to House Appropriations and Finance Committee. Lead Sponsor: Rep. Gail Armstrong
- HB 170 Appropriates $100,000 to the Early Education and Care Department to create a program for child care centers to purchase NM-grown fruits and vegetables. House Agriculture and Water Resources Committee approved on a Do Pass basis. Moved to House Appropriations and Finance Committee. Lead Sponsors Reps. Rebecca Dow and Gail Armstrong.
- SB 185 NM-Grown Produce in Senior Centers Senate Conservation Committee approved on a Do Pass basis an appropriation of $250,000 to the Aging and Long-Term Services Department to purchase NM grown fruits and vegetables for senior center meals and programs. Measure has moved to Senate Finance Committee. Lead Sponsor: Sen. Liz Stefanics
- HB 133 Allocates $100,000 for College Hunger Reduction Pilot Program. House Agriculture & Water Resources Committee approved on a Do Pass basis. Moved to House Appropriations and Finance Committee. Lead sponsors: Reps. Joanne Ferrary, Melanie Stansbury, Karen Bash
Resources:
- Committee Assignments for 2021 Session Senate House
- NM State Legislature Home Page Find My Legislator Find a Bill
- Citizen's Guide to Legislative Advocacy (New Mexico Voices for Children)
- Tips from Kurt Rager, director of Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-NM: All the information you need to actively engage is located on the New Mexico Legislature's website. Pay particular attention to the What's Happening and Webcast tabs located at the top of the page. You can view and track introduced legislation via the Legislation tab.
- Washington Post article "Going to Bed Hungry." Case studies about how pandemic has worsened hunger in several states, including New Mexico
"We understand the deep connection humans have with their food and we strive to reconnect human beings with the abundance which surrounds us all. We see an abundance not only in food but community action and compassion." -Food is Free Albuquerque
Watch a Video
To join the Zoom presentation, please send a request to nminterfaithhungercoalition@gmail.com We will send you the link a few days before the event.
Mark Your Calendars
Monday, February 22, Noon-1:30 p.m.
New Mexico Food & Agriculture Policy Council Action Team Meeting and Legislative Update. RSVP here to receive the Zoom link.
Wednesday, February 24, 6:30 p.m.
Advocating in the State Legislature
The Interfaith Hunger Coalition collaborated with Bread for the World-Southwest Region, Bread New Mexico, the Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-New Mexico and the New Mexico Conference of Churches to organize three workshops on state legislative advocacy in New Mexico. Our third and final workshop, focusing on northern New Mexico, is scheduled for Feb. 24.
To join the Zoom presentation, please send a note to breadnm@gmail.com.
Wednesday, February 24, 4:00-5:00 p.m.
Nurturing Soil for a Healthy Climate: AFSC Farmer to Farmer Learning Circle
Fidel Gonzalez & Matthew Draper will share strategies to steward soil health for farm production and climate health. Fidel Gonzalez has been farming since 2009, is a graduate of the AFSC training program, and the president of Agri-Cultura Network. Matthew Draper has been farming since 2015 and is the farm manager of North Valley Organics. He will share cover cropping techniques as well as a crop planning system to grow healthy soil and an economically viable farm. Register here
Thursday, February 25 9:00 a.m. -12:00 Noon
Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-NM Issue Briefing
The Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-New Mexico will not hold its traditional Bishop's Luncheon at the La Fonda Hotel this year because of the health emergency. However, the Issue Briefing will proceed as scheduled, with a summary of of LAM-NM's Advocacy Agenda for 2021, scriptural reflections, expert presentations, and an appearance by Bishop Jim Gonia of the Rocky Mountain Synod. Please email Kurt Rager at krager@rmselca.org to register for this online event. The Zoom link will be emailed to participants.
Saturday, February 27, 4:00-5:00 p.m.
Food Distribution
Islamic Center of New Mexico 1100 Yale Blvd SE
Sponsored by ICNM Sisters Food Project
Guidelines
Food Distribution
Islamic Center of New Mexico 1100 Yale Blvd SE
Sponsored by ICNM Sisters Food Project
Guidelines
- Do not leave your car.
- No pickup for family/friends
- A tag will be assigned
- Gates will be closed after boxes are distributed
March 12, 2021 12:00 p.m. Mountain time
Bread for the World's first Southwest regional update of 2021
During the hour-long gathering, you will learn about our 2021 Offering of Letters advocacy campaign and how you and your church can be involved in Bread for the World's work to reduce hunger in the U.S. and around the world. You will also have an opportunity to connect with fellow Bread members and advocates in the region. RSVP
March 15-28
Food Depot Offers Free Streaming of Hungry to Learn
The documentary by award winning producer Soledad O’Brien and director Geeta Gandbhir is an inspiring and motivating film that investigates the crisis of food insecurity that affects students on every American college campus. Here is a trailer
On Thursday, March 25, 2021 at 5:30 pm, a live event will be hosted by Sherry Hooper, Executive Director of The Food Depot, in conversation with University of New Mexico professor Sarita Cargas, D.Phil., who has just published a study of Basic Needs Insecurity at UNM, completed during the pandemic in April 2020 (Registration info. available soon). Marygold Walsh-Dilley, a lead co-author of with Prof. Cargas, presented the results of the report to the Interfaith Hunger Coalition on January 5, 2021. Here is the video
Tuesday-Thursday, April 20-April 22, 9:00am-12:30pm
2021 New Mexico Grown Institute: Virtual Gathering for New Mexico’s Farm to Cafeteria Practitioners
Over
three days, from April 20 through April 22, 2021, the institute will
convene local and regional experts to strengthen our collective work
across New Mexico and the wider Southwest region.
Learn more Call for Proposals to present
Learn more Call for Proposals to present
Join Us!
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 31 organizations).. Download the endorsement form and attach in an e-mail to nminterfaithhungercoalition@gmail.com
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