This is an opportunity to build more equitable and sustainable food systems in the US and abroad by supporting farmers, conservation, and food nutrition programs. This year, we have advocacy priorities against several proposed funding cuts, work requirements, and time limits to the nutrition programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and threats to sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices. Find more information about the Farm Bill and its impacts on these web pages:

• Northwest Harvest
• ELCA Advocacy
• Mazon
• Bread for the World
• Food Research and Action Center

Our priority asks for the Farm Bill includes advancing anti-hunger programs such as SNAP, The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), and Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), in which 84% of the bill's budget covers, protecting rural and farming communities including BIPOC and seasonal migrant workers, and expanding just access to food abroad.  Especially SNAP is one of the most effective cornerstone of the bill in reducing hunger and food insecurity, helping approximately 42 million participants with low incomes each month. More and more populations find such nutrition programs as essential to their basic human rights. Yet, as the Covid-19 emergency programs have ended, food access disparity and food insecurity have again deepened. The next farm bill can also play a significant role in combatting climate change through the conservation and energy titles which protect soil, water, and other natural resources and limits the environmental impact of production on private lands.

Faith communities and local social service organizations work with passion to meet the needs of people in their communities who struggle with food insecurity. However, they cannot address the bigger issues of entrenched food insecurity in many parts of the world and the associated intertwining challenges in our agricultural communities. Congress can. Reauthorizing the Farm Bill is an opportunity for our federal government to advance the common good nationally and globally.

Take action today to ask Congress to write a new Farm Bill that achieves more just farm programs, food policy, conservation initiatives, and rural development that correspond to current conditions.