Approximately every five years, Congress reauthorizes the Farm Bill, a comprehensive piece of legislation that authorizes most federal policies governing food and agriculture programs
As has been the case in many prior years, our advocacy efforts in 2023 center on a Farm Bill that protects and enhances nutrition programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Additionally, we also want to protect the programs that help our government respond to food emergencies and promote food security around the world.
As we make these requests, we want to ensure that any decisions reached on the Farm Bill incorporate the principles of equity and sustainability.
Key Issues
 
Meeting with Tracie Benally (Sen. Heinrich) , Jared Henderson (Sen. Lujan), June 2023)
Advocates from Bread for the World, Farm to Table/Food and Agriculture Policy Council, Interfaith Power & Light, CARE, the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC), Save the Children Action Network (SCAN) and other organizations are reaching out to their congressional delegations to seek action on four principal policy areas.
Protect and Strengthen SNAP
"The federal nutrition programs are proven and essential ways to help ensure everyone in the U.S., regardless of race, background or ZIP code, can access the food and resources they say they need to thrive." Congress should: Improve access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for older adults, college students, veterans, working families, immigrants and other people who do not qualify for or are unable to participate in SNAP due to eligibility and enrollment barriers." -Feeding America
Increase Access to Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
via the e Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP)
"Since its first iteration as the Healthy Incentives Pilot in 2008, GusNIP has proven to successfully expand access to and increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables. In fact, people who use nutrition incentives eat more fruits and vegetables than the average American and improve their overall nutrition security " -from a letter to leaders of the US House and Senate Agriculture Committees signed by a few hundred organizations and agencies, including about two dozen in New Mexico. The letter was coordinated by the Fair Food Network.
Unfortunately, only a small fraction of the 41 million people who receive SNAP benefits have access to GusNIP incentives. Increasing U.S. government support for GusNIP in the Farm Bill will help ensure more families have access to fresh, nutritious fruits and vegetables. -Bread for the World
In New Mexico, GusNIP supports the highly successful Double-up Food Bucks program.
"Since 2015, Double Up has helped New Mexicans buy more than $10 million in locally-grown fruits and vegetables. That's a lot of healthy meals!" -New Mexico Farmers Marketing Association
Promote Sustainability and Fight Climate Change
"Far too many people experience hunger in our wealthy nation—including 12 million children who are food insecure. And around the world, the number of people who are severely hungry has increased by 33 percent. Climate change threatens to increase these numbers–as global temperatures and extreme weather events rise, the conditions make it more difficult for farmers to grow food and for those facing hunger to get it." -Interfaith Power & Light
One current initiative (The Food Date Labeling Act, H.R. 3159 and S.1484).intends to cut down on greenouse gas emissions by reducing food waste.
Protect and Enhance International Food Assistance Programs
The Farm Bill offers emergency food support in the wake of sudden disasters. It helps communities manage chronic challenges and bounce back from sudden crises by:expanding access to farm equipment and agricultural loans, providing nutrition education and training on water management practices. -Save the Children Action Network (SCAN)
Write a Letter or e-mail Congress on the Farm Bill (Bread for the World) |
|
New Mexico Farm Bill Priorities
 
In our state, the New Mexico Food and Agriculture Policy Council offers a comprehensive look at the major needs in our state and makes recommendations through the lens of equity and sustainability. The position paper, entitled, "Farm Bill and Child Nutrition Reauthorization Priorities For New Mexico," proposes actions related to nutrition, access to farm programs, sustainability and climate, food safety and much more.
In New Mexico one in four families and individuals do not know where their next meal may come from. To create greater food security, the Farm Bill must protect and strengthen food assistance programs to ensure sufficient resources and access to nutritious food for all people who struggle against hunger and food insecurity, particularly among elder populations.
In New Mexico, farming and ranching comprise our fourth largest economic sector. However, much of this economy is supported by community-based farms and ranches, many of which are owned by Indigenous peoples and other peoples who have historically been marginalized in the USDA model.. Read full position paper
Panel Discussion
In the Fall of 2022, the Interfaith Hunger Coalition and Bread for the World sponsored a forum on the Farm Bill featuring several New Mexico-based coordinators or representatives: Lawrence Gallegos of the National Latino Farmers and Ranchers, Lacey Daniell-Miller from Save the Children Action Network, Terry Sloan from Interfaith Power & Light New Mexico-El Paso, Clarence Hogue and Alan Brauer from the Indigenous Farm Hub. Pam Roy from Farm to Table/New Mexico Food and Agriculture Policy Council moderated. Click on the names to watch videos of their presentations. |
|
Background and Resources- The current (2018) Farm Bill’s mandatory programs expire at the end of September 2023, which creates a deadline for Congress to reauthorize a new bill before then.
- The House and Senate Agriculture Committees each draft, debate, “mark up” (amend and change), and eventually pass a bill; the two committees work on separate bills that can have substantial differences. -National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition. The two versions are eventually reconciled in a conference committee.
- Sen. Ben Ray Lujan and Rep. Gabe Vasquez are on the agriculture committees in their respective chambers and will play a key role in drafting the final legislative initiative. See members of House Agriculture Committee and Senate Agriculture Committee
- The deliberations on the Farm Bill rely on the passage of "marker bills." "They are are not intended to pass as standalone bills; they are introduced to show collective interest in an idea and build momentum -Pasa Sustainable Agriculture (An example is the Local Farms and Food Act of 2023 (H.R. 2723 and S.1205) which Sen. Lujan and Rep. Vasquez have both co-sponsored)
Selected Farm Bill-related sites |
|
|
No comments:
Post a Comment