2023 Farm Bill: Bills To Watch
If you’ve paid much attention to what LAMA has been up to, then you know that we care a lot about the upcoming Farm Bill. Every five years, congress writes a package of bills that oversees our country’s agriculture sector, and it affects everything from farm policy to food assistance programs. Farm Bill legislation is an important way we can help address systemic hunger in our country. To find out more about what the Farm Bill is and why it matters, read our post about it. Read on to learn about some of the bills that we and our partner organizations are paying attention to.
Some of these bills are being considered in the House, and some have been introduced to the Senate. It is important that these bills receive bi-partisan support, and representatives who aren’t on the Agriculture Committees can still co-sponsor legislation. If you have not yet voiced your support for a robust Farm Bill, or you feel strongly about any of these bills, please write your representatives! Resources for contacting your officials are at the bottom of this page.
Upcoming Bills
Improving Access to Nutrition Act (H.R. 1510, S. 2435): This bill would end the three month time limit on SNAP benefits for certain unemployed and underemployed adults who do not document sufficient hours of work each month. The SNAP eligibility time limit restricts many working age adults without dependents to receive only three months of benefits in a three year period unless they document sufficient hours of work. This time limit exacerbates racial inequities and is counterproductive, especially considering SNAP’s effectiveness in improving economic stability. In addition, research indicates the time limit does not lead to a meaningful increase in employment. This bill would help the chronically unhoused and struggling adults who have not been awarded legal disability status. This bill has been co-sponsored by Rep. Raúl Grijalva (AZ-7). More info here: https://frac.org/
Enhance Access to Snap Act (H.R. 3183/S. 1488): This act would put low-income college students on an equal footing with other people eligible for SNAP. Existing rules pose extra hurdles to SNAP for most low-income college students enrolled in higher education at least half time. The EATS Act would no longer condition their eligibility on performing 20 hours of outside employment or work, instead allowing their time spent in and on school work to qualify. It has been co-sponsored by Rep. Raúl Grijalva (AZ-7) and Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-3). More info here: https://frac.org/
Closing the Meal Gap Act (H.R. 3037/S. 1336) : The bill would base SNAP benefit allotments on the more adequate Low-Cost Food Plan, boost SNAP benefits for families with children forced to choose between food and shelter, increase benefits for older Americans forced to choose between food and medicine, raise the SNAP minimum monthly benefit, and improve equitable access by extending SNAP to Puerto Rico (replacing the current block-granted Nutrition Assistance Program (NAP)). It has been co-sponsored by Rep. Raúl Grijalva (AZ-7). More info here: https://frac.org/
The Hot Foods Act (H.R. 3519/S. 2258): The bill would end the prohibition on use of SNAP benefits to purchase hot prepared foods from food retailers. It has been co-sponsored by Rep. Raúl Grijalva (AZ-7).
Lift the Bar Act (H.R. 4170/S. 2038): The bill would eliminate the five-year bar for legal permanent immigrants to access SNAP and other federal programs. This act has been co-sponsored by Rep. Raúl Grijalva (AZ-7) and Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-3). More info here: https://docs.google.com/
Restore Act (H.R. 3479/S. 1753): The bill would repeal the lifetime federal ban on individuals with felony drug convictions from receiving SNAP. This would help lower recidivism rates and helps keep the racial disparities in drug convictions from becoming system hunger barriers. Currently, people with other felony charges are eligible for SNAP, but not those with drug convictions. This bill is in desperate need of support! More info here: https://frac.org/
The above legislation are included in Arizona Food Bank Network’s Farm Bill Priorities. The following bills are also a focus for AzFBN, but are not included in the FRAC one-click letter.
Senior Nutrition Task Force Act (H.R.4706/S.2361): This act would establish an interagency taskforce to address hunger and help seniors, as well as adults with disabilities, better access healthy foods. The legislation would create a task force led by its own secretary. It would include representatives from multiple government agencies and anti-hunger advocacy groups. The president would also appoint at least six members who receive federal nutrition benefits including older Americans, adults with disabilities, and members of grandfamilies or kinship families. The task force would be responsible for evaluating the current situation and delivering a report to Congress by Sept. 30, 2026. This bill is in need of support!
S. 2563 Would allow dual enrollment in the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) and SNAP through the Tribal Access to Nutrition Act. This act would help address food insecurity, which results from systemic economic inequality, on reservation land.
FDPIR Food Sovereignty Act (S. 2489): This act expands the FDPIR Self-Determination pilots that support local food procurement through the FDPIR Food Sovereignty Act. Would give Tribal governments the full authority to function as government agencies in administering federal nutrition programs, including TEFAP, CSFP, and SNAP.
Other Bills to Watch:
SNAP Access for Medically Vulnerable Children Act of 2023 (H.R. 706): This bill expands benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for households with children under the age of 18 who have chronic medical conditions. The bill allows households to deduct medical expenses for there child that are over $35 from their income when calculating SNAP benefits. This bill helps alleviate the burdens on low income families with medically vulnerable kids. It is in need of support!
Voicing Support
If you wish to write a more comprehensive message of support to your representatives, or address bills that are not included on the FRAC one-click letter, you can find your representative here. You can also contact Senator Kelly here, and Senator Sinema here. In the subject line, first paragraph, or beginning of your phone call, list the bills you are voicing support for (e.g. Support for H.R. 3037, H.R. 3037, & 706). Below is a sample letter/email:
Dear Sen/Representative ____
I am your constituent living in____ and I am writing today to voice my support for ______. This/These acts help address system hunger and food insecurity in our country, and I hope to see them on the 2023 Farm Bill. As a person of faith, it is my duty to feed the hungry, and I hope you will join me assisting the vulnerable members of our society by co-sponsoring this legislation/voicing your support for these bills.
Sincerely,
_____
As always, personalized stories and convictions are great to include!
